A exhibition which showcases artists with Down Syndrome is to take its project to the international stage for the first time.
Heart and Sold, the brain-child of Macclesfield resident Suzie Moffat, will exhibit the works of 26 artists from all over the world at a showroom on the glamorous Fifth Avenue, New York in October.
The exhibition, which features art Josie Webster, Anthony Childs, Oliver Hellowell, Tazia Fawley and Lester Magoogan, coincides with a month-long campaign to raise awareness of Down Syndrome across America.
It is an exciting development for the Heart and Sold project which until now has only exhibited in the UK.
The inspiration behind the project came after the birth of Suzie’s Down Syndrome son Max, who is now nine.
The mum of three of Lowe Street, Macclesfield, went back to school to get help with raising a child with special needs, a decision which inspired her to help give Down’s artists a platform. Heart and Sold, a not-for-profit gallery, was born, and launched at the Barnaby festival in 2012. Since then the number of artists promoted by the gallery has reached 30 and has exhibited all over the UK.
The project got a boost in 2013 when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chose a painting by one of the artists Tazia Fawley to hang in Prince George’s nursery.
While the driving force behind the project is Suzie, 42, she is supported by her husband Paul who has a photography business based at Clarence Mill, Bollington.
Suzie said: “It’s really really exciting. This will be our first international show. We couldn’t have asked for a better location than Fifth Avenue, which is thanks to our latest sponsor the Senator Group. The whole Heart and Sold experience has been amazing for the artists’ self esteem and has even led to some of them putting their own shows on in their home countries.
“The New York show takes it to the next level, and while we only plan one show at a time, who know where this could lead. Ideally we could exhibit in the countries of all of our artists.”
Ahead of the New York show running from October 29 to November 27, the exhibition will also be available to see in London from July 10 to September 4.
For details visit heartandsold.org.uk or find them on Facebook.
