Project Type: Blog

Alice Louisa is a Southampton-based documentary photographer, artist, and community arts facilitator committed to amplifying underrepresented voices through lens-based storytelling. Her work is inspired by her upbringing, and explores themes of class, identity, and social issues. She uses portraiture, research, and creative direction to challenge societal narratives.

Alice is interested in the political potential of art and often uses humor and fantasy to explore this. She aims to work collaboratively with individuals and communities that have been under- and/or misrepresented in the media, facilitating co-creation workshops with youth groups, community organisations, charities, schools, and environmental and women’s groups.

Her photography spans documentary, portraiture, and fashion, with recent exhibitions including International Women’s Day: Community Projects, Perspectives from a Safe Space’, a collaborative art project with Hope Street, dedicated to empowering and amplifying the voices of women affected by the justice system. Alice’s work has been published in HUCK and Polyester Magazine, and she continues to develop long-form projects that highlight overlooked stories.

She’s a member of Southampton-based arts collective ZEST Collective and Working Class Creatives Database, and her work is supported by ‘a space’ arts.​​

Image
Alice Louisa by a participant of ‘Perspectives from a safe space’ project

Portfolios

website:
https://alicelouisap.wixsite.com/portfolio

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/alicelouisap/

WCCD:
https://www.workingclasscreativesdatabase.co.uk/member/alice-louisa

ZEST:
https://www.zestartscollective.com/artists/alice-louisa

I firmly believe that pub cultures will bring up conversations with communities and this is such a vital part of any community. Being involved in this project has allowed me to give back and give pubs an identity through art and keep fueling these communities. 

Jo Fisher is a poet, writer, editor, and artist living in Southampton. She moved to the city over a decade ago to study at the University of Southampton (BA English; MA English Literary Studies) and currently works at the University as a Copywriter and Editor. She is also a Trustee for Winchester Poetry Festival.

Alongside her day job, she freelances as a writer and content creator, with experience in reviewing cultural events and theatrical productions, developing social media content and writing website and blog post copy. Previously, she has written bespoke poetry for Southampton City Council and the University of Southampton. She also collaborated with The Big Issue and GO! Southampton to create a special edition of the magazine in 2021.

Jo regularly shares her poetry at local open mic nights and cultural events such as Write a Note, DIY Southampton and JHG Poetry. In 2024, she curated and hosted ‘Poets and Pints’ at SO:Fringe Festival and ‘Verse in the Vaults’ at Music in the City. She performed her poetry for the recent City of Culture bid, and has appeared on BBC Radio Solent several times. In 2019, she represented the Solent region at the Hammer & Tongue Slam Final, performing at the Royal Albert Hall. Her writing has also been turned into a neon light installation at God’s House Tower, which can be seen behind the cafe bar.

When she’s not writing poetry or working, Jo shares her creativity on social media and Substack. She can usually be found exploring the local area, making the most of Southampton’s art galleries, theatres and museums, enjoying independent cafes and eateries, flexing her green fingers, and connecting with her creative surroundings.

Profile photo:
Credit Rudy Visuals

 I am a French American artist based in Southampton.

My background is in graphics and computer animation.

I have exhibited my works in many venues and events in the U.K. and abroad too (France, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Japan and South Korea)  

I am a multidisciplinary artist and I work in many different styles and mediums.

Art is never created in a vacuum. Whatever the Art, an artist’s work is a reaction to the world around them. And I think it is crucial for artists to play their part in their community to help foster creativity and wellbeing.

Every project is different and requires its own approach, I often use my Art as a catalyst for discussion that takes me on a voyage of discovery into my creative process.

The title of the commission,  “Anchors aweigh”, to me, indicates something that has begun and that a creative journey had started

I feel it is a good example of a project that is the result of the dialogue between myself, the local community  , and the pub’s proprietors. The multi-layered imagery and the varied cutout shapes in wood have been inspired by my brainstorm workshop with the pub’s staff and  my discussions with the customer. The great majority of the building block for this artwork were donated by the local community and I hope I can inspire people to be creative, reuse and up-cycle for themselves.

There are a lot of details in this artwork that are inspired by the local history and the pubs’ heritage. Some details are obvious ,and some are a bit more hidden