Two self-taught Swindon artists are set to open what they believe is the town’s first professional studio and gallery dedicated to outsider art, creating the sort of creative space they say they could never find themselves.
Studio BRUT opens on Saturday, 15 August, at Arclite House, Peatmoor, offering not only a working artists’ studio and exhibition space but also a hub for self-taught creatives across Swindon and Wiltshire.
Founded by local artists Harrie Dearing and SLART, the project has grown from a simple idea: if the traditional art world doesn’t always make room for self-taught artists, create a place that does.
The venue will combine a professional gallery with working studio spaces, while also hosting a free public directory promoting self-taught artists from across the region. Free community workshops are also planned, with the founders hoping to encourage more people to discover and develop their own creativity regardless of background or formal qualifications.
Accessibility has been built into the project from the outset, with step-free access, accessible toilet facilities and a dedicated quiet room designed to ensure the space is welcoming to as many visitors as possible.
The official launch takes place between 6.30pm and 9.30pm, with free admission for the public.
Alongside music from guest DJs, visitors will be able to view an exhibition with an unusual twist. Rather than selecting their own work, each founder has curated the other’s exhibition, offering a fresh perspective on the artists and their practice.
The Mayor of Swindon is expected to attend the opening, underlining the significance of the project for the town’s growing cultural scene.
The launch also comes at a pivotal moment for Swindon, as the town continues its campaign to become UK City of Culture 2029. Studio BRUT’s arrival adds another independent creative venue to a cultural landscape that has expanded rapidly in recent years through artist-led initiatives, community organisations and new exhibition spaces.
For Harrie Dearing and SLART, however, the aim is refreshingly simple: to give self-taught artists the opportunity, visibility and professional platform that they themselves never had.
In doing so, Studio BRUT hopes to prove that great art isn’t defined by where you studied, but by the creativity, passion and individuality you bring to the canvas.
