Troublemakers
and
Prophets
Elizabeth Allen and Other Visionary Artists
Saturday 28 March – Monday 31 August 2026
From detailed beadwork to large-scale sculpture, these pieces transform everyday chaos into something fantastical, reflective and urgent.
Watch this introduction to the exhibition by its curator, Ila.
About the
Exhibition
A bold, immersive exhibition that explored art, isolation and extraordinary vision.
Elizabeth Allen’s creations are absurd, darkly funny, and strikingly prophetic. In this exhibition she was joined by a host of other “visionary artists” who invited visitors to step into a vibrant, topsy-turvy world where 12 of her works were displayed alongside more than 15 artists who also saw life differently. Bold responses to contemporary life were displayed from artists who turn struggle into powerful visual statements.
Known as Queen, Allen was on the cusp of wider recognition when she died in 1967, after years of living in a cabin in the forest. Her work reveals a life shaped by fierce conviction and apocalyptic vision. This exhibition included the first public showing of Queen’s handmade textile autobiography – the ‘Autobiraggraphy’.
Queen’s textile proclamations led a chorus of works made from fragments – toys, furniture, clothing, news, religion and folklore. From detailed beadwork to large-scale sculpture, these pieces transform everyday chaos into something fantastical, reflective and urgent.
If you’re unable to visit this exhibition in person (or if you’ve been and would like to relive it!), watch this walkthrough
These three films look in more detail at artworks from the exhibition: Alice in Jungleland and Population Explosion by Elizabeth Allen and Potions For My Animated Life by Grace Currie.
The films on this page were commissioned by DASH and Compton Verney, and produced by West Midlands based filmmaker Robert Alexander.
Troublemakers and Prophets featured work by
Elizabeth Allen, Eleanor May Watson, Helen Chadwick, George Storm Fletcher, Lou Lou Sainsbury, Grace Currie Magic Artist, Uma Breakdown, Louise Odes Neaderland, Lily van Oost, Sian Newlove-Drew, Jesse Jones, Penny Slinger, Mireille Delice, Suzanne Treister, Saroj Patel, Rebecca Nassauer, Grace Ndiritu, Aradne and the Rita Keegan Archive Project (with patchwork contributions by Ego Ahaiwe Sowinski, Ajamu, Charlie and Kate Boxer, Pat Brown, Althea Greenan, Catherine Grant, Joy Gregory, Anna Harding, Hiroko Hagiwara, Zhi Holloway, Terry Humphrey, Bhajan Hunjan, Symrath Kaur Patti, Amoke Kubat, Samia Malik, Ruth E. Morgan, Virginia Nimarkoh, Georgina Obaya Evans, Elizabeth Oniri, Ingrid Pollard and Olive Pollard, Raju Sachi Singh, Michelle Williams Gamaker, Jacqueline Wright, Keegan Xavi, Rehana Zaman)
Opening Times
Wed – Sun: Grounds 10am-5pm,
Galleries 10.30am–5pm
Closed Mon and Tue, except bank holiday Mondays