Baltic Preview: For All At Last Return / Saodat Ismailova

Join us to celebrate the opening of two new major exhibitions, and Saodat Ismailova. The evening includes a drinks reception that will be held in Baltic Riverside.

There is no charge to attend this event, and we encourage donation tickets. If you're unable to attend the event, we are unable to refund your donation. Booking is essential.

18:00 Galleries open, Level 4 & Level 3
18:00 Drinks Reception, Baltic Riverside, Ground Floor
18:15 Director’s Welcome, Baltic Riverside
20:00 Preview Event closes

Monira Al Qadiri / Michele Allen / Bianca Bondi / Shezad Dawood / Taloi Havini and Michael Toisuta / Joan Jonas / Otobong Nkanga / Katja Novitskova / Kristina Õllek / Leticia Ramos / Emilija Škarnulytė / Rob Smith

This major group exhibition focuses on marine ecosystems, exploring different ocean habitats from near-shore and intertidal zones to coral reefs, the open ocean and the deep sea, considering our relationships with these fragile environments and their dependent communities. The exhibition features new and recent work by British and international artists for whom the health of the ocean is an enduring concern.

In conjunction with this exhibition, a newly commissioned Lightbox work by Nadia Huggins is displayed on Baltic's Ground Floor.

Exhibition Partner

Leticia Ramos is participating in this exhibition as part of 'The Ocean's Edge / Litoral do Limite' an initiative of Pivô (BR) and Invisible Dust (UK), supported by the British Council and Instituto Guimarães Rosa, as part of the UK/Brazil Season of Culture 2025–26.

With thanks to the Embassy of Estonia in London and the Estonian Contemporary Art Development Center (ECADC).

8 November 2025 – 7 June 2026 | Level 3

Filmmaker and artist Saodat Ismailova presents her first exhibition in a UK public institution. Coming of age in post-Soviet Uzbekistan, her work interweaves rituals, myths and dreams within the tapestry of everyday life, and investigates the historically complex and layered culture of Central Asia.

The exhibition is framed around Swan Lake (2025), a film premiering at Baltic that seeks to capture the spirit of a period of immense transition in Central Asia's recent history - Perestroika - a time that remains a neglected part of collective experience. It was an era of upheaval, struggle, and survival: the collapse of an idea alongside an extreme pitch of hope, a time of losing ground, of liberation, grief, rage, and joy.

25 October 2025 – 29 March 2026 | Ground Floor

Alongside two new exhibitions, explore Qi Fang Colbert's curated collection of hand-built ceramics, limited edition linocut prints, and original collage paintings. Featured works include 'Whatever Vases', Chawas, bowls, large narrative pieces, and hanging tiles. Drawing from Phenomenology, Taoism, Early Renaissance art, and Surrealism, the artist weaves original narratives across three-dimensional and two-dimensional works. Artworks will be available to purchase both in person or online from Baltic Shop.

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Also check out other Exhibitions in Gateshead, Arts events in Gateshead, Fine Arts events in Gateshead.