Jade Ashley Yong | She/Her | @thisfleshyprison
As an ode to all things dark and whimsical, with tinges of hope, my work ties into the ethos of eclecticism and the forms of unbridled creative expression that Afflecks boasts. The tributes to my multicultural upbringing, merged with fantastical scenes from my own mindscape, mirror the diversity of influences and the daring mixture of styles that shape the items on display throughout Afflecks.

Baby Face | He/Him | @babyfacedesigns
My name is Finlay Sandiford (he/him), I'm a queer trans artist from Bolton and I'm so excited to have the opportunity to have my work showcased at the iconic, inclusive space that is Afflecks. I feel my work belongs in Afflecks because Afflecks' history of being a haven for misfits and people who exist in the margins fits with my themes of inclusion and alternative expression. Growing up a working class, Northern, disabled, alternative, queer trans kid, there weren't many spaces where I felt represented and safe. Afflecks represents that for many people - since moving to Manchester in 2018, I have had the privilege to explore the edges of Manchester where I was able to find my community in the heart of Afflecks.

Sky Isabella | She/Her |@skyisabella.des
A large source of inspiration throughout Sky’s work are the darker, macabre aspects seen throughout different Gothic subcultures. Juxtaposing with touches of pinks, frills and lace, being influenced by kawaii Harajuku fashion which is stereotypically seen as “hyper feminine” Sky’s practice mainly focuses on fashion design and believes that garments should be designed to be worn and enjoyed by anyone regardless of gender, identity, size, age, disability etc and should allow the wearer to feel confident and empowered.

Cara Ashton | She/Her | @caraart
I have just graduated from Textiles in Practice at Manchester Metropolitan University and am trying to start my career as a printmaker. My work is quite conceptual drawing inspiration from social issues such as mass surveillance and AI. The work I make is process driven, using bold motifs to tell stories. By experimenting with processes, I am able to capture the issues I look at, drawing attention to the core questions at hand. I would love to see my work in Afflecks as I’ve been going since I was young. The community and openness to art and alternative ideas helped me find and express myself.

Charmange Coble | She/Her | @coblefinearts
Before moving to Manchester, Afflecks was one of the first places I visited and I finally felt like I found my home. The minute I walked through the doors and up the stairs I was surrounded with like minded creatives, individuals and a community of electric energy. What stood out to me was not only how happy and unique the people were, but the safe environment that had been created in this palace. As an artist who expresses her self through her work around, grief, mental health and recovery, I believe my work fits in the realm of Afflecks. I have always done my best to help others embrace who they are and explore their emotions through art and I believe my art in Afflecks would continue to help others.

Katherine Rivera | She/Her| @_artismytherapy__
My name is Katherine Rivera, I'm 26 from the British Virgin Islands. I have been creating from a very young age. I continued to do art throughout high school by choosing it as my major. I attended visual art/sculpting and theater art classes. I love painting and recently getting back into print making and sculpting from my childhood . Making art is like a second language to me, it allows me to express myself when I can't find the word or emotions. I like to create pieces digitally. Which is how this piece was created. I am now going back and dipping my fingers more into traditional mediums. I have begun to share my artwork more with the world by posting on digital platform of Instagram. This piece was created at a time when I was experiencing difficulty with my anxiety. The girl with blue for me expresses finding someone/something that has anchored me to me. Anxiety can sometimes make it difficult to express oneself but knowing that you have that special someone or something things makes things just a little bit easier. Afflecks creates the same feeling. Feeling of welcomeness, belonging. Every time I visit I can always find something to relate to, incredible art pieces. Fashionable clothes and so much more. Afflecks has something for everyone.

Ó̷̞̘Ḍ̶̺̐̂̍Ó̵̲̰̩̃̚ | It/That | @odo_paints
I’ve always had the most vivid dreams and have been a long-time sufferer of sleep paralysis. These paintings are a form of therapy for me, a way to figure out if these dreams have meaning or if they are in fact just a random collection of chemicals flowing through my mind. Over the years these paintings have evolved into my own little world of grotesque creatures and landscapes. I'm expanding this world into other mediums like graphic novels, animations, video games and short films I’ve hidden around the web. In short, I want to create my own dark corner of the internet for people to stumble upon and sink their teeth into.

Steve Whitewood | He/Him | @stevenwhitewood_art
I feel that my work fits into the realm of Afflecks as I believe that as an establishment it is all about the people, the traders, the interests, styles and passions of the people in Manchester that make the space come to life and keep it going; without people we simply wouldn’t have Afflecks. My practice revolves around observation and focusing on the people within a space, the way they look, dress, carry themselves and how they influence the world around them; all of which are elements that have also been integral to Afflecks’ identity throughout the decades and much like Afflecks, my paintings wouldn’t be there if it weren’t for the people to make it interesting.

Kylie McNulty | She/Her | @kylietextiles
Afflecks holds a special place in my heart as a haven for creative expression. It exudes an atmosphere that nurtures innovation and embraces artists of all kinds. As a versatile artist, I explore the realms of colour, materiality, texture, and tactile experiences in my work. My latest creation, 'Metaverse' exemplifies this exploration as it captures the fluidity of waveforms through pixelated squares on a wooden panel, creating a dynamic two-toned effect.

My creative journey is an unwavering quest to push the boundaries of design by blending colour, texture, materials, and the sense of touch. I'm fuelled by an insatiable desire to experiment and expand my horizons. Currently, my fascination lies in the transformative power of decay in our environment, which serves as a boundless source of inspiration. My ultimate goal is to translate the essence of digital decay into tangible materials, seamlessly bridging the gap between the virtual and physical worlds.

Vermin | They/Them | @vermin.mcr
I’m a Manchester born street artist and designer heavily influenced by metal/punk music and that style. Spending much of my teenage years wandering through Afflecks undoubtedly influenced me. To me, Afflecks is about embracing the alternative and creating a sense of community, something which I have also found within the pasteup street art scene. Through my art, I’ve made friends round the world who put my designs up in their cities (and I, theirs, in Manchester), including Sao Paulo, Tokyo, Melbourne, San Francisco, Paris, and Berlin. I want to promote this genre of street art to a wider audience and encourage more people to start creating, like how Afflecks encouraged many mancs to embrace the weird and alternative.

Leah Sanders | She/Her | @leah.sanders.paints
I’m Leah Sanders, she/her, I’m 19 and currently study fine art at the University of Salford. I’ve always loved visiting Afflecks, the general vibe and aesthetic of the place has always drawn me in. Especially as a queer individual with many queer friends, it’s always felt like a safe space for us. My favourite parts of it are the shops that showcase items that are more alternative and creepy which I think my work can fit with themes wise. Though I know there is a lot of variety through Afflecks, I think to me I find myself noticing the more creepy and horror themes throughout because I primarily focus in on themes like that myself in my work. Im in my second year now of university and since I started a year back, my work has developed into exploration of identity and the complex relationship with emotions and the body in exaggerated visuals. The place was introduced to me when I was young and it’s always been one of my favourite locations in Manchester

esK | He/Him | @salford.esk
Afflecks has always been a place of discovery and curiosity for me. A place of a million different styles, patterns, objects. Somehow this building, with its intricate yet immovable architecture, is transformed into a wonderland of winding walkways and fabric thoroughfares by its traders and patrons. Through this image, 'Outside the Hairdressers', I would like viewers to reflect on the patterns we see in everyday life, the patterns we choose to represent parts of ourselves, and the
inherent value of self-expression.

Lauren Liu Lin | She/ Her | @lin.liu_art
I am originally from China. I lived in Norway for 6 years but now I'm based in the vibrant Northwest of England. While art has always been a beloved hobby, it is only this year that I have begun to explore the possibility of turning it into a potential career. Growing up in China, I was heavily influenced by Japanese manga and “ACG” (anime, comics and games) in general. I was drawn to Afflecks when I first came to Manchester, I feel like home as it is very close to the ACG subculture that I grew up with back home. I attended one year training on classical oil portrait painting in 2021, it has given me a solid foundation where I can build my creativity upon. Most importantly, I've met many like minded friends and fellow Artists. I was encouraged by painting classmates to participate in the Art Battle in Manchester this May, and I won. It has boosted my confidence greatly. I am currently building up a portfolio. It would be wonderful if my work can be shown in Afflecks micro gallery.