Nomad Exhibits Returns to Connect the Industry Over Art

Nomad is a full service post production company that offers editing, colour grading, VFX and sound design, and last month, its studio in Borough, London, played host to the second-ever ‘Nomad Exhibits’ event. Curated by Kath Sawszak-Pierce, Nomad’s executive new business consultant, the events showcase art from talent within the industry and are set to occur three times annually, with the inaugural show occurring in March this year.

This time, the exhibition increased in size from its first iteration, displaying 16 artists’ work instead of 12. “I was over the moon with the variety of art on display and it was great that most of the artists were in attendance,” Kath told LBB at the event. “For this second exhibition I was helped with contacts from some of my fellow Nomads. Our colourist, Felipe Szulc, showed me Franz Galo’s work and our editor, James Norris, recommended director, Jack Cole. I also loved that at least half of the artists from our first exhibition came along as well!” 

The first time around, Kath knew all the displayed artists personally. However, she reached out further afield for September’s exhibition to find a mix of people – some newcomers and other more established artists who have exhibited before in the likes of the Saatchi Gallery and Royal Academy. But Nomad Exhibits is not just about the “well established” artists, Kath explained. 

“It’s for people in our industry who are already artists, but maybe they’re hesitant about exhibiting. Nomad Exhibits is a place where they can exhibit their art, in front of lots of industry folk, and it’s not judged.”

Winding along the busy corridor of Nomad’s studio, lined with artwork and chattering huddles of guests, there was a palpable warmth and affability to the night, with conversations sparking naturally between old friends and new. Directors speaking with editors, experienced ECDs mingling with runners at the start of their careers – and all colliding happily in the shifting currents from one end of the exhibit, back to the cheese and wine, and on to the other end. 

From directors to animators, heads of new business and art directors, the full gamut of the creative industries was represented through the art, which spanned portrait photography, oil and acrylic painting, comedic cartoons and even a short video installation – all from the following artists: Alan Murray, Mia Powell, Ewan Jones-Morris, Jack Cole, Calum Sharp, Fern Berresford, Peter Lydon, Charles Inge, Franz Galo, Lucian Trestler, Sarah Lim-Murray, Chris Shepherd, Harry Hall, Luc Janin and Steve Reeves.

Above: Franz Galo's photography

“Everybody in our industry, whether they're a producer, a writer, a creative director or a runner, has a creative edge,” said Kath. “And when it’s people within the industry, it's even better – you're enjoying seeing your friends’, or friends of friends’, art.”

Many of the artists were also in attendance, enjoying the social aspect as well as discussing their work with anyone who wanted to ask questions. “It just brings everyone to the same level – and you don't get that [at other exhibits]. How often can you go to an exhibition and actually chat to the artists? Here, you get to chat with them!”

Mia Powell is the head of new business and an executive producer at production company Caviar, and was exhibiting her series of acrylic portraits at the event, depicting women after rhinoplasty surgery. Having studied photography and forensic science at university, she told LBB that her interest in anatomy and tendency to paint when she’s in pain, resulted in 2020’s ‘Pretty Broken’. 

Above: Mia Powell and Kath Sawszak-Pierce in front of 'Pretty Broken'

“I lived alone through covid, so this was like my outlet… There's a lot of fragility in their eyes, but they're on a journey. And I was also on a journey at this time.” Having previously only done one self-curated exhibition around eight years ago, Mia admitted putting her work forward for the exhibition wasn’t easy. “This is the first time I've ever exhibited these portraits, and it makes me feel a bit sick, to be honest,” she laughed. “It's really scary!”

Fortunately, the friendly atmosphere at the event could soothe some of the nerves, as she discussed the paintings: “There's a sense of, ‘this isn't the end of the journey’. They're all post-op from a rhinoplasty operation and they are trying to do something which is hopefully going to better their lives. On the surface level, it’s cosmetic. But for them, maybe it’s going to make some real change." 

Above: Ewan Jones-Morris' collage art

"For me in the pandemic, just being able to create something that wasn't motivated by someone else was my catharsis," she added. "It's really nice to be able to focus on something that I could call my own.”

Peter Lydon, a commercial director recently signed to RSA, was exhibiting his New Yorker-inspired cartoons – a long-time passion, having previously written for comic strips with a partner, before deciding to start drawing them as well around five years ago. Covering topics from politics to relationships and domestic animals, he uses an iPad and the app Procreate to bring his hand drawn gags to life.

Above: Peter Lydon

“It’s the first time my work has been shown outside of Instagram and it’s been a very galvanising process,” he told LBB.

“Nothing was properly archived [before] so this kick-started that. I roped in friends and family for the selection process, and even redrew some faves to help unify my style. It’s like I have gone legit overnight!”

“I think it’s really wonderful that Nomad is doing this,” he added, “having these exhibitions and tapping into the often hidden creativity in an industry that thrives on it. Giving a platform to these different voices. Filling their walls with ‘content’ with a purpose!” 

Happy to see the instant reactions and laughter on the faces of people at the exhibit, he emphasised how the event provided a much-needed outlet for creativity free of the industry’s usual parameters.

“Being able to have an idea then put it out there to live or die on its own strengths, that’s got to be good. I do think the industry could create more opportunities for creatives to create in a ‘safe space’ so to speak. If you are creative and not creating in some way, that’s a killer.”

Fern Berresford, a commercial director for Rogue Films and a photographer at Academy Photo, was displaying images from her ‘Time to Reign’ and ‘For Dramatic Effect’ series at the exhibit. Fern had dreamed of being a director since she was eight years old, and made her first short film, ‘Made Mad’, at 23, becoming nominated for the Cannes Young Director’s Award and winning Best Film at the Women in Film and Television awards to kick-start her career. 

Above: Fern Berresford with her photography

A friend of Kath’s, having photographed her wedding over a decade ago, she told LBB that shooting stills was initially a product of her creative frustration with how long it took to win opportunities and build a reel as a director. “My answer to this slow progress was to buy myself a Canon 5D camera and a pack of Profoto flash-heads and to teach myself to shoot and light photography.”

Passionate about storytelling, Fern’s work has previously been exhibited at VCCP, M&C Saatchi, Big Buoy and MPC in London, as well as at a gallery in New York, as a prize for winning the British Journal of Photography’s ‘Female in Focus Award’.

Above: Fern Berresford's photography

Speaking on the work on show at the Nomad exhibit, she said that her ‘Time To Reign’ photo series comments on the cyclical nature of fashion, and infuses the returning ‘90s sports style with a regal baroque aesthetic. “Working class meets high art. Merging the old with the new,” she explained. “It aims to raise questions about the subjective nature of fashion and the ever changing qualities of popular culture and trends.”

Meanwhile, ‘For Dramatic Effect’ fuses tropes from 1920s cinema and German expressionism with contemporary styling elements to challenge cinematic narratives of the past. “They’re a set of odd and intriguing moments and characters that lead the audience to build their own story for each shot.”

Complimenting Nomad’s “beautiful space” to display her photos in, she said, “I liked the concept of the exhibition – showcasing art from creative people across the advertising industry… It’s a real honour to be part of it. I was blown away by the talent of the other artists that took part. From portrait paintings to illustrated cartoons, to street photography, there was such a fantastic array of work, showcasing the many talented and creative folk working in advertising."

Above: Lucian Trestler's 'The Three Graces'

“People have many facets,” she continued. “You can be a copywriter and a painter, a producer and a photographer. Even if you love your day job, there’s always going to be more to you than what you do nine to five, and this exhibition offers a great insight into the talent that’s out there.”

For Kath, it’s important for each Nomad Exhibit to have a mix of artists – some of whom are emerging or not confident, along with the more established talents.

Above: Charles Inge's 'Bell Jars'

Another one of these artists from September’s show was Sarah Lim-Murray, a London-based oil painter who has been an art director for the likes of Leo Burnett and Saatchi & Saatchi.

Also having delved into embroidery, sculpture and other mediums, Sarah's artwork has been exhibited in various art fairs and galleries in London, Milan, Monaco, Venice, and her native Singapore. However, speaking of the Nomad Exhibit, she told LBB, “It is great to see how other creatives in adland release their artistic side without a client brief.”

Above: Sarah Lim-Murray's ‘Robot Cat’ series

Getting to meet some ex-colleagues and some new faces, she praised the event’s positive energy and its showcasing of the “the other side of our creativity beyond advertising” – including her partner, CGI artist Alan Murray, who “caught a few people by surprise” with his own oil paintings on display.

The three pieces that Sarah exhibited were from her ‘Robot Cat’ series – ‘CURIOUS’, ‘ACCEPTANCE’ and ‘REJECTION’ – inspired by the relationship between humans and AI. 

Above: Alan Murray's oil paintings

“It’s undeniable that AI is becoming part of our lives. Some of us are CURIOUS about it, some ACCEPT it and others REJECT it,” she said. “I used DALL-E to generate images of the robot cats, and then integrated them into a ‘traditional’ oil painting. The theme came from observing my real cat, who seems to have a set of programmed behaviours, not unlike an intelligent robot.”

Describing this creative outlet as “totally important”, she says that her art has helped keep her sane while her creative work as an art director seems to have more restrictions nowadays than a decade ago. “Having another creative outlet releases my frustrations.”

With two very successful events in the books, it’s clear that Kath’s focus on variety extends beyond the selection of artists as well. 

Above: Jack Cole's 'Norwegian Blue' short film on display

Kath has curated not only a diverse collection of work (twice now!) but a much-anticipated tri-annual event that invites a wide spectrum of creative industry personnel to socialise and forge connections around a remarkable array of art.

“Our lovely Nomad MD, Liv Lawton, and I were saying how It’s great to see all the old school faces, some with names above doors of agencies, combining with emerging talent,” she concluded. 

“There are advertising legends like Mark Denton and Charles Inge chatting to a new rep from a production company. That makes us so happy to see everyone hanging out and discussing the incredible art on display in a relaxed environment. We can’t wait for the next one and we’re looking forward to artists of all levels within the industry getting in touch with us about exhibiting!”