The Renaissance Is Now
What is Renaissance? It’s 40 independent artists, one room, and a massive cultural shift happening right now in the Birmingham art scene. It’s an explosion of styles, from paintings, installations, prints and ceramics.
We launched the Open Call because we had to face a truth every artist in this city knows and has been open with us about: Birmingham has an abundance of creative talent but not necessarily enough space in general to get it seen. So, we built the thing to hopefully help! Seventh Circle has always been an artist-led gallery with a simple mission: give independent artists in Birmingham the platform they deserve. But to do that properly, we had to evolve, too.
The name Renaissance wasn’t just chosen as a theme; it was our reality. We outgrew our old walls, physically, creatively, and emotionally. It takes grit to "name it, shake it off, and move on." We made the decision to restart from scratch and move from our small Gallery and Framers in Moseley Village and make a new Digbeth art hub that could hold the scale of what this community is becoming. We did it because we wanted more, for us, for our Seventh Circle artists and for the artists within the community, we wanted to provide an accessible stage.
Our Private View was packed, wall-to-wall immaculate energy, artists beaming, and strangers bonding over stories and their passion to create. It was one of those rare nights where you could feel the city rooting for itself. But here’s the truth: the private view is just one night.
Here’s the secret, Independent art spaces don’t survive on opening nights; they survive on what happens after. The momentum we felt in that room only matters if it carries forward. This is where you come in. We need you to keep the energy alive long after the prosecco has gone flat!
Come back. Bring someone new. Share the work. Cast your vote for the People’s Choice Award in the gallery! The winner will receive custom bespoke framing from us, because let’s be honest, high-quality gallery-standard framing for independent artists can feel like a distant dream wrapped in mystery!
And while we’re talking about celebrating artists, here’s something we’re incredibly proud of: the Director’s Choice Award. We didn’t want to hand over a cash prize and say “see you later.” We wanted to give someone a genuine career boost. So one artist will be awarded a Solo Exhibition and Private View right here at Seventh Circle. We’re essentially handing over the keys to the space because we believe this deeply: when our artists grow, the whole city grows with them.
We’ve built the stage. The artists have filled the walls. Now we need the community to keep the room alive. Because this isn’t just an exhibition; it’s a Renaissance. And Birmingham deserves to feel it every day, not just on opening night.
Support local. Stay loud. See you in Digbeth!!
EXHIBITION ON UNTIL 24TH FEBRUARY.
View the Exhibition catalogue here
Written by Marie Hutton
Director,
Seventh Circle
Thank you to all the wonderful shares on social media, these are of our wonderful Renaissance Artists at the Private View 24/01/2026
