24-27 September, NN Contemporary Art Project Space.

For our final Professional Development Residency Award 2024, we were delighted to present an exhibition of new photographic work by Rhys Thirtle.

Entitled Reclaiming End: Queer Power and Love, Rhys reinterpreted the story of Eden through a queer lens, emphasising empowerment, love, and resistance. The series, which used Polari to reflect queer history, combined traditional portrait styles with modern twists and Renaissance influences. This immersive experience aimed to provoke thought, celebrate diversity, and inspire a deeper understanding of love and power in all its forms.

Rhys Thirtle was a contemporary photographer whose work delved into the intricate intersections of identity, expression, and queer culture. A graduate of the University of Northampton, Rhys’s photography often explored themes of LGBT+ experiences, challenging conventional norms and inviting viewers to contemplate diverse meanings of identity and acceptance. His projects, such as those featured on Obsessionism Photography, were known for their evocative storytelling, which engaged the audience and left them intrigued, bridging past, present, and future to foster dialogue and understanding in a society grappling with notions of gender, sexuality, and belonging.

The exhibition was open from 24–27 September, 11am–5pm, with a private view on the 26th from 6–8pm. All were welcome.

The Professional Development Residency Awards (PDRA) was a partnership between NNCA and the University of Northampton, organisations that were both passionately committed to making Northampton a culturally rich place in which to live, study, and visit. Our shared objectives were: creative research in art and design, public and community engagement, local growth and regeneration, and skills development, enterprise, and employment.