Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Artangel and award-winning artist and Spider-Man enthusiast Hetain Patel, present Come As You Really Are. The exhibition features hundreds of objects created or collected by hobbyists in the Midlands and beyond, alongside a new film by Patel. Each hobby represents a decision to commit valuable time to living life on our own terms in a society dominated by consumerism.

The exhibition presents hobbies of all kinds to celebrate their variation, freedom of expression and ingenuity, broadening our perception of who gets to be called creative and where the impulse to create stems from.

On display will be unique hand-crafted objects loaned by hobbyists working in diverse disciplines, such as knitters and needleworkers, wood carvers and model makers, potters, painters and illustrators, costume and cosplay makers, model engineers, origami specialists and many more. There will also be collections, including vintage football programmes, kitchenalia, milk bottles, painted eggs, gnomes and stones, alongside comics, action figures and toys – from Goo-jit-Zu to Transformers and He-Man to dollhouses!

The exhibition also features new and existing works by Patel, including a new film that explores the outstanding creativity and passion that people put into their hobbies. A selection of objects by the hobbyists featured in the film will be interspersed throughout the exhibition, including animals sculpted in wool by Mandy Smith, a needle felting enthusiast from Tipton.

Come As You Really Are by Hetain Patel is a nationwide project made up of 13 partner presentations across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales from Summer 2024 - 2026. 

Commissioned by Artangel, the project began with a national call out inviting members of the public to share the activity to which they dedicate their spare time. At the heart of this project is a nationwide community of people whose labours of love are a lens through which the artist presents an alternative portrait of the UK. The inaugural exhibition took place at The Hobby Cave at Grants, Croydon, London between 18 July and 20 October 2024. This is being followed by curated presentations at partner venues across the UK throughout 2025 – 2026.

Aiming to showcase hobbies from across the region, Wolverhampton Art Gallery launched a fresh call out in the Midlands in January 2025. Gallery staff have been amazed by the immense skill, passion and imagination demonstrated in the hundreds of responses from hobbyists across the region and further afield.

Councillor Chris Burden, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills, said: “The power of creativity is unstoppable, and at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, we’re celebrating it in all its forms.

“Come As You Really Are brings together an incredible tapestry of hobbies from handcrafted masterpieces to nostalgic collections - revealing the passion, ingenuity, and individuality behind each one.

“Whether you’re a dedicated hobbyist or simply curious, this exhibition invites you to explore the many ways we express ourselves beyond the everyday. Join us in celebrating the limitless nature of human creativity and the joy of making!”

Hetain Patel said: “There is a vulnerability in sharing something so personal, which often happens in private spaces around the responsibilities of daily life. But there is also a tremendous power in sharing collectively, which is at the heart of this project. I hope people join us in this celebration of the unstoppable nature of self-expression that is demonstrated by our hobbies.” 

Mariam Zulfiqar, Director at Artangel, said: “Hetain Patel’s work has always invited us to reflect on identity as multidimensional and complex. For Come As You Really Are he generously extends an invitation to people around the country, asking them to share the objects, activities and pastimes that form part of their identity. The ambitious presentation of hundreds of objects loaned by as many hobbyists creates a new kind of picture, where people and their identities are seen beyond national, racial, gendered or age-related categories that conventionally categorise who we are.

“Artangel is working with a network of leading arts and cultural organisations to realise this ambitious project across the UK and supporting one of our most exciting artists working today to create an exceptionally memorable and inclusive project.”

Come As Your Really Are opens on Saturday 12 July and runs until Sunday 5 October 2025. The exhibition is free to the public, and timeslots can be booked in advance. Wolverhampton Art Gallery is open Monday to Saturday from 10.30am to 4.30pm and Sunday from 11am to 4pm. For more information, please visit www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk

The launch weekend on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 July celebrates hobbies and hobbyists, with a Friday Late, from 6pm to 9.00pm, and a Hobby Fair, from 1pm to 3pm on Saturday. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the exhibition hobbies and themes in the company of artist Hetain Patel and participating hobbyists, with talks, workshops, demos and live performances including music and fashion.

ENDS