About

Aspex Portsmouth is a visual arts and educational charity bringing new art and ideas to the heart of the city.

Located next to Portsmouth’s historic waterfront in the Gunwharf Quays complex, Aspex lets visitors immerse themselves in contemporary art and culture within its vibrant gallery space.

There is a diverse programme of art and community exhibitions; events and activities (including workshops and lates); a shop featuring a collection of prints, gifts and more; and an independent cafe.

Aspex Portsmouth is free to visit and donations are warmly welcomed. You can find out more about the gallery and plan a visit by heading to: aspex.org.uk.

Traces of the Non-Existent, Ebun Sodipo
2 May - 13 July 2025

Aspex Portsmouth presents Traces of the Non-Exis­tent, a new com­mis­sion by Lon­don-based mul­ti­dis­ci­pli­nary artist Ebun Sodipo.

At the heart of Traces of the Non-Existent is the figure of Vitoria – a 16th-century Black trans woman who was enslaved and defied European conceptions of gender and the body. Through an assemblage of historical fragments and imagined futures, Sodipo reclaims and reconfigures Black trans narratives, inviting audiences to engage with histories that have been silenced or erased.

Visitors will encounter objects that transport them into a recognisable yet fabulated past, where Black trans voices empower, rage, laugh, unite, and persist in the face of ongoing injustices. Moving beyond the limits of historical documentation, Sodipo speculates on alternative futures, envisioning worlds where Black trans lives are empowered, connected, and celebrated.

At the core of Sodipo's practice is a commitment to creating for those who will come after – Black trans people of the future. Her work, rooted in Black feminist study, investigates the construction of a Black trans-feminine self in the aftermath of slavery and colonialism. Using collage and fabulation as key methodologies, the artist reimagines the body, desire, archives, and history, offering a profound reflection on identity and existence.

About the artist:

Ebun Sodipo was featured in Frieze's 'Ten Artists to Watch in 2025' and has exhibited at notable galleries and institutions, including recent solo exhibitions Nasty Girl (The Sharpest Girl in Town) at V.O Curations, London (2023) and The Edge Sheen of a Cut at VITRINE Gallery, Basel (2023). Her work has also appeared in group exhibitions at Hauser & Wirth, Somerset (2024); Neven Gallery, London (2024); and FACT, Liverpool (2022), among others.

Traces of the non-existent is kindly supported by the Henry Moore Foundation, Patrick Holmes, and the Portsmouth Pride Trust, and is presented as part of the UK Pride 2025 programme in Portsmouth.

Following the exhibition at Aspex, Traces of the Non-Existent will continue as part of a nationwide project with BUILDHOLLYWOOD. The exhibition will travel to Brighton during Trans Pride and Pride 2025, and to Birmingham Pride 2025, continuing its legacy through a national billboard campaign.

Come As You Are, Rachael House
30 April - 20 July 2025

Come As You Are presents a vibrant collection of ceramics, sculpture, zines, and prints from multimedia fine artist Rachael House.

Through her diverse practice, which encompasses drawing and performance, House thoughtfully explores themes of gender and queerness with a personal and playful lens. The works create a vital space for reflection, empowerment, and inclusivity, echoing the crucial act of making visible narratives that are often marginalised.

At a time when LGBTQIA+ communities face rising hostility, these pieces stand as urgent, defiant, and compassionate acts of presence. Engaging with interconnected themes of collective joy, the complexities of aging, mental health narratives, and feminist perspectives, House's ceramics and sculptural works often blend intricate patterns, humor, and serious messages, rendering them both decorative and deeply accessible, inviting viewers to find personal meaning and connection.

The platters and plates on display boldly re-imagine feminist and LGBTQIA+ potentials, drawing inspiration from Simone de Beauvoir's assertion that "one is not born, but rather becomes, a woman" and the queer reframing of a beloved line from The Railway Children.

The Leather Flappers – sculptural bat-winged fists, stand as potent symbols of solidarity and the boundless nature of queerness, echoing the sentiment that "nothing is as queer as nature."

At the heart of the exhibition resides the tiled panel You Are Safe Here, functioning as both a heartfelt intention and a protective spell, affirming safety, belonging, and profound inclusivity – a powerful declaration for both the present and those yet to come.