Exhibition: FRUITFUL
Event, Exhibitions, Free, In Person, RIPE
Friday 23rd October 6:00pm – Sunday 29th November 2026 4:00pm
God's House Tower, Town Quay Road, Southampton, SO14 2NY
FRUITFUL is a six week programme of exhibitions by emerging artists in Southampton.
Rooted in ‘a space’ arts’ RIPE graduate scheme, delivered in partnership with Southampton Solent University and Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton, this celebration of budding talent showcases nearly 40 home-grown artists working in a variety of mediums and practices.
Here are the three exhibitions which are part of Fruitful:
Friday 23rd October – Sunday 1st November
Ripe Blueberries is an exhibition by this year’s graduating cohort: a group of 12 artists navigating their first few months out of university. Moving on from their ‘final major project’, the artists have met, exchanged ideas and made something new.
Meet the Blueberries:
- Emily Hanger
- Finlay Hunt
- Jess Moorhouse
- Lisa Babbe
- Lucy Grant
- Orla Bastable Staples
- Owen T Douglass
- Penny Russell
- Chhainguns
- Ava Marsh
- Kai Grizzle
- Robin Sendor
Friday 6th November – Sunday 15th November
Coconut Shy brings together eight 2025 graduates who have been working collaboratively over the last year on a circus-themed exhibition that explores speculative story-telling as a framework for individual practices and collective imagining.
Meet the Coconuts:
FRUITFUL: Bin Juice by ZEST Collective
Friday 20th November to Sunday 29th November
When artists stay longer in a city, what wisdom and exciting artworks ferment and grow from what others leave behind? ‘Bin Juice’ is ZEST Collective’s latest exhibition showcasing the recent work of 24 of the collective’s artists. The name playfully riffs on the fruit theme that has characterised the RIPE Programme and ZEST’s own name since the beginning.
ZEST Collective formed in 2020 as a result of a growing ambition amongst the RIPE artists to establish an independent organisation and lead their own programmes. Six years and many projects later, this exhibition brings together current ZEST members from across the city and beyond.
Meet the artists from ZEST Collective:
What is RIPE?
Established in 2018, the RIPE programme supports graduate artists from Southampton Solent University and Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton to exhibit and engage in artistic exchange and experimentation, forming networks and friendships that will help them sustain a fruitful visual arts practice.
The programme has previously been based at Alfred Arcade, the Hidden Wardrobe and the Alfred Arms on Old Northam Road in Southampton, and is now welcomed at God’s House Tower and the Arches Studios.
Each year, a new cohort is recruited under a different fruit name. Explore previous RIPE projects from the Bananas, Mangoes, Tomatoes, Peaches, Plums, Pears, Papayas and Coconuts.
Access & Quiet Spaces
The ground-floor bar and café at GHT have step-free access from Town Quay Road. For information on parking and travel, please visit our Plan your Visit page. The artwork for this exhibition is located in the Main Gallery and the Barker-Mill Project Space, both of which are accessible via lift.
Quiet Hours: Every Thursday morning from 10am – 12pm, lights will be dimmed and sound levels lowered.
For the duration of this exhibition, the library will also be available as a quiet space. This space includes dimmed lighting, seating, quiet music, and water. You are welcome to use it at any time if you would like a break.
If you’d like to familiarise yourself with the venue before your visit, you can take a virtual tour of our spaces on our website. You’ll also find a visual story introducing members of the GHT team. Click here to Plan Your Visit or take a Virtual Tour
Do you have any access requirements? We are happy to discuss individual access needs wherever possible. Please email [email protected]