Abstracting Familiarity

Hypha Gallery 2 / No. 1 Poultry, London EC2R 8EN

PV: Thursday, 16th July 2026, 6-9pm

Open: 17 July 2026 – 29 August 2026

‘Abstracting Familiarity’ explores the playful and abstract side of the built environment. Bringing together a group of artist–architects and model makers, the exhibition delves into the artistic nature of place-making, drawing inspiration from the iconic postmodern building, 1 Poultry.

Through a curated selection of existing works, visitors are invited on a journey from the whimsical to the abstract—reimagining conventional approaches to architectural design. Much like James Stirling’s signature “worm’s-eye” axonometric drawings, we will toy with perspective and form, stretching the familiar into the surreal. The exhibition spans drawing, illustration, painting, and sculpture, each probing the boundary between recognition and abstraction.

In addition to the curated works, a series of new site-specific pieces directly respond to 1 Poultry—abstracting and distorting its materials, colours, and geometry to create a surreal architectural landscape. The sculptural installations are built using reclaimed materials, embodying the spirit of creative reuse.

Lucy Pickford
Maz Weineck
Anna Gibb
Karl Singporewala
Joseph Goodwin
Helen Waites
Jerry Florez
Louisa Schmolke
Studio Mutt
McCloy + Muchemwa
Bureau de Change (TBC)
Augustine Coll (TBC)