Grove Gallery to present Aidan Phelan’s debut solo exhibition, Reflections of a Broken Mirror.
This 30-piece collection provides a poignant commentary on contemporary society, exploring themes such as climate activism, social media pressures, justice, and societal evolution.
Having grown up in Birmingham and spent the past 20 years in London’s Soho, Aidan has witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of knife crime. In his debut collection, he collaborates with The Ben Kinsella Trust*, a charity dedicated to combating knife crime through education and advocacy, on a significant piece. This artwork incorporates messages from Ben Kinsella’s GCSE English letter to Prime Minister Gordon Brown written just months before his tragic death, alongside Ben’s own bird drawings. On the opening day, Ben’s family will add the final touches to the artwork, honouring his legacy and raising awareness about the devastating impact of knife crime.
Ben’s mother, Deborah Kinsella, shared her heartfelt thoughts on his lifelong passion for art:
“Ben’s passion for art stemmed from a very early age. He loved being creative with colour and techniques. He was always painting or making something and went on to gain an A for art in his GCSEs back in 2008. He wanted to be a Graphic Designer, and we have no doubt he would have achieved this. Our family are very thankful and humbled that Aidan and Grove Gallery will be using Ben’s bird drawing as a symbol of hope. We hope that it too can inspire others and have a positive impact for change for future generations to come.”
Aidan Phelan was once known as David Beckham’s personal hairstylist and the creative force behind some of Beckham’s most iconic looks, including the infamous mohawk. A celebrated celebrity hairdresser of the 90s, his work appeared in GQ, i-D, and Dazed and Confused, and he collaborated with renowned photographers like Rankin and Mario Testino. He also had his own TV show and a product range stocked in major retailers. However, the COVID-19 pandemic marked a turning point, leading Aidan to focus on philanthropy, raising £2.3 million for NHS workers and leading initiatives supporting mental health and brain tumour research. Now, he has returned to his first love art as a way to critically engage with modern society.
Aidan Phelan, Reflections of a Broken Mirror, March 17th – April 17th Grove Gallery
*The Ben Kinsella Trust has educated over 30,000 young people about the consequences of knife crime through their Choices and Consequences programme benkinsella.org.uk
