A collective exhibition exploring belonging, memory, and identity across the MENA dispora.

'A Place That Holds Me" offers visitors a space to pause — to trace the invisible threads that tie us to where we come from, and to where we are now. From June 6 to 8 , artists from across the Middle Eastern, North African, and Arab (MENA) region gather under one roof to explore what it means to belong, to remember, and to carry home within. Through painting, photography, installation, and mixed media, these artists transform personal histories — stories of displacement, inherited memory, identity, and resilience — into works that invite us into the intimate landscapes of diasporic life.

Within A Place That Holds Me, memory becomes material: a word passed between generations, a lost home revived in color and line, a childhood fragment reborn in form. This is a space where heritage is not fixed in the past but lives, shifts, and breathes in the present. This exhibition invites you to journey through each artist’s reflections on belonging — to witness the homes they carry, the places that hold them, and the collective spirit that endures across borders and time.

Artists

@ginarosvoldstudio GINA ROSVOLD @taniaali.art TANIA ALI @hannahgursoy HANNAH YAGMUR GURSOY @mahart23 MAHA SHAMI @mayarmahfoud MAYAR MAHFOUD @dafnedinc DAFNE DINC @zaiddajani7 ZAID DAJANI @artbyhq BARRA QUISAY @biiboart SAFIYYA NAJAMI

Venue: The Chapel, 21 Old Ford Road, E2 9PL

Access: We are working to make our Grade II listed building more accessible but it will take some time. If you require access support (including our portable ramps), please get in touch via comms@stmargaretshouse.org.uk

Dates & Times: Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th June, 10am-6pm

The opening event for this exhibition will be held in The Gallery Cafe in a special evening of food, drink, and community. Learn more about this and book your tickets at the link below.