MICHELLE MILDENHALL: SIXTY-NINE, a retrospective showcasing 69 pieces from her 15 years creating latex artwork, takes place on Sept 12-14 at Unit 2 Gallery, St Leonards, East Sussex
Michelle Mildenhall: Sixty-Nine reasons to catch new exhibition
Coming in mid-September, Michelle Mildenhall: Sixty-Nine is the renowned British latex artist’s biggest ever exhibition – a retrospective of her 15 years of creating pervy pop art from sheet latex. The show will feature 69 works, including brand new pieces and never-before-seen items. The exhibition, at St Leonards’ Unit 2 Gallery on September 12-14, kicks off with an opening evening at which fetish dress will be encouraged and prizes awarded! There’ll also be limited edition prints on offer during the show and afterwards. Here, we celebrate Michelle’s oeuvre, and preview some of the pieces on exhibit. We also offer tips for getting to St Leonards and even some recommendations for places to stay!
In September, British artist Michelle Mildenhall presents her most ambitious and personal exhibition to date: Sixty-Nine — a retrospective celebrating 15 years of provocative and empowering art.
Bringing together 69 pieces for the very first time, this landmark show offers a unique glimpse into the evolution of her highly distinctive style, one that explores fetish subcultures and sexual identity through a lens that is playful, powerful and deeply personal.
Known for her signature technique — layering cut sheet latex to create striking, pop-art inspired portraits — Michelle’s work draws influence from a broad range of sexual fetishes including rubber fetishism, BDSM and sexual objectification.
It uses these themes to challenge ideas around desire, dominance, and subversion.
With a graphic pop art edge, her portraits transform familiar and iconic faces, as well as original characters into figures of empowerment, intrigue and humour.
Sixty-Nine — part of the annual Coastal Currents Arts Festival staged in the area from August 30 to September 30 — is the largest exhibition of Michelle’s work to date and marks a key moment in her creative journey.
From her earliest latex portraits to new and never-before-seen pieces, the exhibition forms a compelling visual narrative, revealing the influences, stories and personal experiences that have shaped her voice as an artist.
STORMTROOPER (F), above, is an artwork created specially for the Sixty-Nine show. A signed, dated and numbered limited edition of 25 prints of it measuring 305x428mm on 350gsm Hahnemühle fine art paper will be available at the show and online afterwards at £185
Unsurprisingly, Sixty-Nine will include, above, her latest artwork, Stormtrooper (F), which was created specially for the exhibition.
“This exhibition brings my work full circle,” says Michelle. “It’s the first time I’ve brought all these pieces together in one space, from my earliest latex portraits to unseen sketches and paintings that have never been shown publicly.
“I’ve never felt fully comfortable within traditional roles or expectations, and that’s something that drives my work. It’s about power, control, and how sexuality, especially female sexuality, is perceived, judged and politicised. [Continues in second column…]
“I hope this exhibition tells the story of how I’ve developed creatively and personally over the years.”
Michelle has gained international recognition for her work, having exhibited at major art institutions including Saatchi Gallery (London), La Luz De Jesus Gallery (Los Angeles), and Sin City Gallery (Las Vegas).
She was photographed by Rankin for his The Unseen exhibition, and her art is to be found in collections all over the world. Her best-known piece, QE2, was the cover of Skin Two magazine issue 65, further cementing her place in both the art and fetish communities.
S.E.X. – a salute to Vivienne Westwood, above – is another new artwork in the Sixty-Nine show. A signed, dated and numbered limited edition of 25 prints of it measuring 305x428mm on 350gsm Hahnemühle fine art paper will be available at the show and online afterwards at £185
As an artist who emerged from the world of latex fashion and fetish club culture, Michelle brings a rare authenticity to her work. Every portrait is handmade, tactile, and loaded with symbolism. Her art, much like the material she uses, is sleek, sexy and seductive.
Expect Sixty-Nine to be not just an exhibition, but a celebration of 15 years of creativity and determination.
Whether you’re familiar with Michelle Mildenhall’s work or are just discovering it for the first time, Sixty-Nine promises to be a striking showcase for the oeuvre of an artist unafraid to push boundaries.
The exhibition will run from Friday September 12 to Sunday 14 at Unit 2 Gallery in the East Sussex coastal town of St Leonards, in the borough of Hastings.
For Friday’s opening night (6pm–10pm), guests are invited to embrace the spirit of the show by wearing fetish attire. Dressing up, while not obligatory, is encouraged. And those who go all out could be rewarded: the best-dressed guest will win a free print of their choice.
Two runners-up will each receive a limited edition print of Suspense, Michelle’s new artwork featured on the exhibition poster (represented centre in this article’s top banner).
On Saturday and Sunday September 13 and 14, the exhibition will be open from 11am to 6pm. Catch it if you can!
Michelle Mildenhall: Sixty-Nine show sample galleries
Click/tap either preview to open gallery; click/tap any thumbnail to start slideshow
Limited edition signed/dated/numbered print of Suspense
Suspense, Michelle’s original for her show poster artwork (right), will be available as a print (without text except the M signature) to purchase during the exhibition.
The signed, numbered and dated 297x420mm limited edition of 69 print on 350gsm silk-coated paper will have a special price of £69 including a certificate of authenticity.
If you can’t make it to the show, you can order the print after the show, by emailing Michelle here.
Michelle Mildenhall links
michellemildenhall.co.uk
facebook.com/michelle.mildenhall
instagram.com/michellemildenhall_artist
thefetishistas.com/consensual kink show
thefetishistas.com/harness & mane show
Sixty-Nine: getting to St Leonards, places to stay and more
Location: Unit 2 Gallery, 8-10 London Road, St Leonards on Sea TN37 6AE
Opening night: Friday September 12, 6pm–10pm (fetish dress encouraged)
Saturday and Sunday September 13 and 14: 11am–6pm
BY ROAD FROM LONDON OR M25
From London or M25 Junction 5 (Chevening Interchange) it’s a straightforward drive down the A21 until you reach the outskirts of St Leonards. Continue on the A21 at the roundabout where the A21 forks left to become London Road (A21).
At the second roundabout, follow the right fork to continue on London Road (A2102) almost to St Leonards sea front. The gallery at 8-10 London Road is on the left after the junction with Norman Road, which is also where the A2102 turns left.
Michelle assures us there is plenty of free parking in the area both before and after 6pm. Some parking is restricted to two hours but is still free.
BY RAIL FROM LONDON TERMINI
There are regular trains from London Charing Cross/Waterloo East/London Bridge to St Leonards Warrior Square, which take between 1hr 30 and 1hr 45. Trains from Victoria to Warrior Square take almost 2hr.
From the station it’s a 2 minute walk
down Kings Road then London Road to Unit 2 Gallery at 8-10 London Road (on the left hand side when facing the sea).
PLANNING AN OVERNIGHT OR WEEKEND?
Not only could you catch Michelle’s exhibition but you could take in other events over the same weekend that are part of the Coastal Currents Arts Festival.
Coastal Currents Arts Festival is an annual celebration of arts and culture across East Sussex.
Based in Hastings and St Leonards but encompassing other towns in the area, it features open studios throughout the region and a host of events, exhibitions and performances.
coastalcurrents.org.uk
coastalcurrents.org.uk/sixty-nine
“So If you fancy a trip to the seaside for a fun-packed arty/kinky weekend, then this is the perfect time to do so,” reckons Michelle!
She has also recommend three local B&Bs that might suit you for a night or longer:
laindons.com
theknowleatstleonards.co.uk
victorianbedandbreakfast.co.uk
ST LEONARDS MAP showing Warrior Square Station (top centre), London Road (centre top-bottom) and Unit 2 Gallery (bottom centre, pinned in red)
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