Our very first MakerWorld Gallery exhibition has been a huge success, thanks to the playful vision of artist Abigail Horn and the boundless creativity of our visitors. Abi’s installation, I Did It!, transformed the gallery into a place where art wasn’t simply looked at, but touched, built, knocked over, and remade in endless ways.
The big question running through Abi’s work is what happens when art is for everyone and when children lead the way in creative exploration? The answer, it turns out, is joy and bravery.
Our artists have been brave in stepping back and handing control to our youngest visitors, allowing children to decide the fate of their creations. In a world where galleries often mean “don’t touch,” this meant having a bit of faith.
The result was a fantastic creative meeting ground where kids, parents, and artists worked around each other, blurring the usual lines of who makes, who observes and who decides what art should be.
This matters to us. MakerWorld’s aim is to give artists space to develop their practice while opening the doors wide for our community to join in. For Abi, this was a chance to test and stretch her ideas with children and we think she relished the opportunity.
The exhibition was also a reminder of the importance of accessible, flexible, and sometimes slightly imperfect spaces. Yes our gallery is a little rough around the edges but this is proof that we don’t always need pristine white walls or grand architecture to make meaningful experiences. What matters is who the space is for and how it invites people in.