Not My Usual Stilts - June 2026

About the Exhibition

Not My Usual Stilts is a collaborative exhibition by Emily Calvert of Benderwicks and Cornish artist Julia Kerrison, celebrating nearly thirty years of friendship, creativity and artistic exploration.

Having first met at university, Emily and Julia have spent decades sharing ideas, supporting each other's creative journeys and occasionally joining forces on projects. Most recently, they collaborated on the 2025 exhibition Side Quest, which invited visitors to step away from the main path and discover unexpected artistic adventures.

This year's exhibition takes that spirit of exploration even further.

The title 'Not My Usual Stilts' plays on the familiar phrase "not my usual style", reflecting the challenge both artists set themselves: to step beyond the artistic ground where they feel most comfortable. Like walking on stilts, experimenting with unfamiliar techniques, subjects and materials can feel exciting, awkward, liberating and occasionally precarious.

For this exhibition, both artists have deliberately moved outside their established practices to explore new creative territory. Visitors will discover abstract works alongside more representational pieces, unexpected themes, varied scales, and experiments across different mediums. Some works may feel familiar, while others reveal entirely new directions and approaches.

At its heart, Not My Usual Stilts is an exhibition about curiosity, growth and the value of taking creative risks. It celebrates the freedom to experiment, the courage to try something different and the enduring friendship that has encouraged both artists to keep pushing beyond their own expectations.

Whether you're already familiar with the work of Emily and Julia or discovering them for the first time, this exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see both artists from a fresh perspective.