Exeter Contemporary Open in Review: Holly Slingsby
Published October 9, 2026
To celebrate the 20th year of Exeter Contemporary Open, we're catching up with artists whose work has previously been shown at the exhibition. This time we spoke with Swansea based visual artist Holly Slingsby, who's practice explores belief in a variety of contexts, as well as examining representations of women and the implications of those through performance, video and painting.
Can you describe what you exhibited with us when you were in the Open?
I exhibited a video work, An Enclosed Garden. This was commissioned for Margate NOW in 2021, so it was wonderful to be able to show it again, for another audience.
What are your memories from being in the exhibition?
I was surprised and delighted to be one of the joint winners, alongside Anna Brass and Richard Phoenix. It was great to meet lots of the other artists at the opening event. There were lots of interesting connections between the exhibited works, so it felt more like a curated group show than some open shows do.
How have things changed for you since you exhibited with us?
I've been exhibiting and making performances in the UK and Europe. This year I was awarded a Bryan Robertson Trust Award which will enable me to research and develop a new body of performance and video work, so that's really exciting.
What does Exeter Contemporary Open mean to you?
The selection of artists each year is really strong so I was honoured to be part of the exhibition. The whole experience was really encouraging and I feel that Exeter Phoenix is very supportive of artists.