This April, in Southampton, an immersive gallery place as 2nd year fine art students from Solent University present Unboxed, a bold and imaginative public art exhibition.

Running for 5 days, unboxed invites visitors to step inside two repurposed shipping containers and experience a diverse collection of contemporary artworks spanning multiple mediums and approaches. The exhibition displays work that includes personal and reflective stories alongside inventive and site- specific works, showing the exploratory nature of the artists who are on their own creative journey.

The title unboxed is used to describe the action of unpacking. A revealing of what is inside and how both a shipping container and the human spirit can depend on each other to uncover their stories. By converting industrial containers into intimate exhibition environments, the students challenge traditional gallery expectations and explore the connection between global movement and the human experience.

Visitors can expect a wide variety of artistic practises, including paintings, 3D installations, digital media, and mixed media works. The exhibition highlights individual artistic voices, while also experiencing an opportunity to work collaboratively in a real-world context. Also known as 'The Artistry Collective', this group of student artists have curated and installed the collaborative as part of their professional development.

Unboxed engages directly with the public, making contemporary art accessible to a broad and diverse audience. By bringing art into an open, everyday environment, the students aim to spark curiosity and conversation, among passers- by and dedicated art enthusiasts alike.

"In my tenth year of running this module, I am just as excited as I was in my first year to see what this talented group of artists put together for their first major public exhibition. This exhibition is for everyone and I would highly recommend joining us for this exciting and diverse exhibition" sarah filmer Lecturer in Fine art Solent University.