Exhibition

WRRIGHHTINNGSERRSS

Continuous writings in blue pen on a white paper with pink ink behind the letters.

Artist Barry Finan stood in front of his long scrolls of text.

Barry Finan’s First Solo Show – at Moon Grove

This autumn, Barry Finan presents his work at Moon Grove in Manchester, marking his first ever solo show. Barry is known for his unique “WRRIGHHTINNGSERRSS” – long, flowing streams of words and phrases that spill across ceramics, paper and sculpture, turning language into something you can see, touch and feel.

This new exhibition brings together a fresh body of work where Barry’s playful, layered handwriting is presented in mixed materials, with a fresh exploration of colour. Each piece holds fragments of conversations, hopes and observations, inviting you to slow down and step inside his world of words.

Hosted at Moon Grove, a beautiful Georgian home turned contemporary art space in Manchester, the show offers an intimate setting that feels more like stepping into someone’s living room than a traditional gallery – the perfect backdrop for Barry’s deeply personal art.

Barry was awarded the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award for Artists in 2024, a prestigious national award recognising outstanding artists at a pivotal point in their careers. The award provides three years of funding and support, enabling Barry to dedicate more time to developing new work, experimenting with materials and expanding the reach of his practice. This debut solo exhibition at Moon Grove marks one of the first major public outcomes of that support and offers visitors a unique opportunity to see how Barry’s art is evolving at this exciting new stage.