Ikon Gallery Announces Bold Summer Programme: SPAN by Seulgi Lee & “Thread the Loom” Weaving Exhibition

Ikon Gallery is delighted to unveil its summer 2025 exhibitions, spotlighting two compelling and distinct projects that celebrate the intersection of contemporary art and traditional craft:

SPAN

A brand-new UK solo presentation by Seoul-born, Paris-based artist Seulgi Lee, running 25 June – 7 September 2025 at Ikon Gallery’s Second Floor Galleries.

• Lee’s work intertwines vibrant colours, subtle gestures, pared-back forms, and performative elements—rooted in her exploration of measurement, language, and traditional crafts, notably the historic “span” of the human hand en.wikipedia.org+14ikon-gallery.org+14ikon-gallery.org+14.

• Highlights include new commissions such as SIX PENCE—a mother-of-pearl button work crafted in collaboration with BCU Jewellery School—and SPAN (2025), drawing from Korean dancheong mural painting infused with contemporary minimalist disciplines ikon-gallery.org.

• Lead support provided by Bagri Foundation, alongside ai. gallery; Korea Artist Prize Promotion Fund (SBS Foundation & National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea); and Trampoline, Paris westsidebid.co.uk+2ikon-gallery.org+2ikon-gallery.org+2.

Thread the Loom

A dynamic group exhibition celebrating the living art of weaving, also running 25 June – 7 September 2025.

• Anchored by an AVL Studio Dobby loom—on loan from Birmingham City University—activated by micro-residencies involving West Midlands weavers (Chantelle Folarin, Mahawa Keita, Clare Langford, Andrée Walker, Theo Wright) and international artist Seulgi Lee ikon-gallery.org+13ikon-gallery.org+13ikon-gallery.org+13.

• Exhibition features original textiles woven on-site, showcased alongside works by Raisa Kabir, Alis Oldfield, Bharti Parmar, Dinah Prentice, and Su Richardson ikon-gallery.org+3ikon-gallery.org+3ikon-gallery.org+3.

• Supported by Jerwood Foundation, Cotton Textiles Research Trust, The Saintbury Trust, and Freelands Foundation ikon-gallery.org+4ikon-gallery.org+4ikon-gallery.org+4.

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Launch Event

Tuesday 24 June, 5–7pm · Ikon Gallery, Brindleyplace
Join us for drinks and artist talks to celebrate the opening of both exhibitions.

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“With this new exhibition at Ikon… I’m focusing on figuring out a methodology for measuring between things, ways of working with them, histories and collective stories… A SPAN.”
— Seulgi Lee en.wikipedia.org+8instagram.com+8instagram.com+8ikon-gallery.org+1ikon-gallery.org+1

“Ikon’s weaver residencies will raise the profile of textiles generally, and weave specifically… seeing a Dobby loom in action at Ikon Gallery will be intriguing and enlightening.”
— Zoë Hillyard, Senior Lecturer, BCU Textile Design ikon-gallery.org+5ikon-gallery.org+5ikon-gallery.org+5

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Visitor Information

• Dates: 25 June – 7 September 2025

• Opening Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 11am–5pm

• Admission: Free (donations welcome)

• Venue: Ikon Gallery, 1 Oozells Square, Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2HS

• Accessibility & enquiries: Please contact [email protected]

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About Ikon Gallery

Ikon is an internationally acclaimed contemporary art venue located in a Grade II-listed former school building in Birmingham. Offering free access, its dynamic, accessible programme includes exhibitions, off-site projects, education initiatives, and community engagement, supported by Arts Council England and Birmingham City Council en.wikipedia.org+10ikon-gallery.org+10ikon-gallery.org+10facebook.com+2ikon-gallery.org+2instagram.com+2en.wikipedia.org.

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For further information, interviews, or press images, please contact:
Press & Communications Team
Ikon Gallery
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44 (0)121 248 0708