Alice Hackney: Grow Into It

OVADA Gallery | 26-29 March 2026

14 Osney Ln, Oxford, OX1 1NJ

Private View Thursday 26 March 5-9pm

Open Friday 11am-7pm, Saturday 11am-7pm, Sunday 11am-5pm

Artist Talk and Tour, Saturday 2pm

Raw Felting Workshop, Sunday 3-5pm

Grow Into It debuts a new body of work by artist Alice Hackney.  Comprising installation, sculpture, video, print and textiles, it marries together the forgotten friends of ecological and disability research. This body of work marks a shift in the artist’s practice, as she tentatively incorporates her body and disability as subject matter for the first time. She collates her lived experience alongside her long time muse of land usage, ownership and access. The works question our perception of uselessness: the worthless and inconvenient material of raw sheep’s fleece, the pigeon - once prized for its homing abilities, and the artist’s frequent and exasperated description of her own body.

Her work reflects on the unhelpful and unnatural categorising of bodies and landscapes – the standards her body is perceived not to meet, and the supposedly natural boundaries imposed on our outdoors. She playfully and painfully considers the disabled body that her child-self did not grow out of, and the man-made boundaries that she longs to grow beyond.

More information for Artist Talk and Tour:

In this free session, Alice Hackney will be in conversation with Dr Sarah Simblet. Together they will delve deeper into Grow Into It, and share insights into the exhibition process. This is an exciting opportunity to explore the exhibition with the artist, and hear new perspectives on her work from a celebrated artist. 

Dr Sarah Simblet is a fine artist, writer, broadcaster and anatomist, the author of Anatomy for the Artist (2001), The Drawing Book (2005), Botany for the Artist (2010) and co-author of The New Sylva (2014), Sarah is dedicated to sharing and encouraging visual intelligence in others through her drawings, teaching and broadcasting worldwide. 

More information for Raw Felting Workshop:

In this free workshop, artist Alice Hackney will share her process of working with raw sheep's fleece, and guide you through traditional needle felting techniques. You will be able to make small felted pieces in a variety of natural colours and textures, and take home your creations. This session is suitable for all ages, with alternative activities available for small children. Spaces are limited, and will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis. Please get in touch here with any questions.

About Your Visit:

Information is available on OVADA's website here.

Access information provided by OVADA is available here.

 Please be aware that the gallery space is not heated and can amplify cold weather.