Bristol Legends News / art
Meet the categories: Bristol’s visual arts legends
Nominations are open now for our new project, Bristol Legends.
We want to hear your top picks for artists, events and venues that are keeping Bristol’s arts scene thriving.
Whether it’s your favourite event, a particular exhibition, or an artist that you think has made an outstanding contribution to Bristol, we want to hear who you think deserves to be named a Bristol Visual Arts Legend.
In the visual arts category, we are looking to spotlight legends in the areas of:
Artists
Exhibitions/Events
Newcomers
Venues
Along with any other that you believe deserve recognition.
Once we know your favourites, our expert panel will decide who will take the title of Bristol Visual Arts Legend at our event in March 2026.
This year’s Bristol Legends visual arts panel features some of the brightest minds behind Bristol’s rich cultural and artistic landscape. They are:
Nicole Yip
Nicole Yip is this year’s head panellist for visual arts – photo: Spike Island
Nicole is the head panellist of this year’s visual arts panel. She is a curator and writer who recently became director of Spike Island. She brings extensive international experience from previous roles at institutions such as Nottingham Contemporary, developing exhibitions and live programmes that explore contemporary art and performance.
David Trigg
David Trigg is a writer, critic and art historian – photo: David Trigg
David Trigg is a Bristol-based writer, critic and art historian. He holds a PhD in Art History from the University of Bristol and has written widely on contemporary art for leading publications and exhibition catalogues. His work focuses on the relationship between art, place and social experience.
Kathryn Johnson
Kathryn Johnson is the head of exhibitions at the RWA – photo: RWA
Kathryn Johnson is head of exhibitions at the Royal West of England Academy. With a background at the V&A and the Design Museum in London, she brings extensive curatorial expertise to one of the South West’s leading art institutions, overseeing a dynamic exhibition programme.
Bolanle Tajudeen
Bolanle Tajudeen is dedicated to celebrating artists of colour – photo: Alexis Chabala
Bolanle Tajudeen is a curator, educator and the founder of Black Blossoms, a platform and art school dedicated to celebrating and amplifying artists of colour. She has also worked as public art curator for the Bristol Legacy Foundation, supporting inclusive and representative cultural projects.
Alex Lucas
Alex Lucas is an illustrator, street artist and muralist – photo: Alex Lucas and Upfest
Alex Lucas, also known as one half of Lucas Antics, is a Bristol-based illustrator, street artist and muralist. Her vibrant and playful large-scale artworks can be found across the city and beyond. She continues to push creative boundaries through immersive installations and community collaborations.
Ali Roche
Ali Roche a creative producer and curator – photo: Spike Island
Ali Roche is a creative producer and curator specialising in artists’ film and moving image. Formerly head of commissions at Spike Island, she is now director of LUX, where she develops and supports ambitious projects in contemporary moving image and performance art.
Main photo: Dan Weill
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