Exhibition: Children of Albion by Ben Edge

'This November, the Fitzrovia Chapel presents Children of Albion, a powerful new exhibition by London-based British artist Ben Edge (b.1985). In this showcase of painting, sculpture, and film, Edge continues his deep dive into British folklore and mythology – mining the ancient stories and rituals rooted in the land to uncover their enduring resonance in a modern world marked by disconnection.

Edge captures what he calls a “Folk Renaissance,” reflecting a rising desire to reclaim ancestral roots and reconnect with nature. But Children of Albion is no exercise in nostalgia. Instead, it’s a forward-looking vision, an invitation to re-enchant our relationship with the land and reimagine a shared cultural identity that bridges past, present, and future.

Edge’s works conjure ancient sites and the mythologies that surround them, where demons, superstitions, and timeless tales take shape within today’s fragmented world. Through these works, Edge blends tradition with the tensions of modern life – grappling with environmental collapse, identity crises, and a collective yearning for meaning.

“As contemporary Britons, I believe we’re all part of this evolving story,” Edge says. “It transcends time and heritage, forming a diverse, interconnected whole. Since the pandemic, I’ve seen a renewed fascination, especially among younger generations, with folk traditions and the spiritual power of the land.”

At the heart of the exhibition is Edge’s most ambitious painting to date: Children of Albion, 2025. Serving as a dramatic altarpiece in the Chapel, it offers a sweeping visual history of Britain, from prehistory to the present. Inspired by the fantastical complexity of Hieronymus Bosch, it explores the unravelling of our bond with nature while confronting Britain’s colonial legacy. Through themes of migration and transformation, Edge reclaims Britain as a “mongrel nation” – a place shaped by waves of cultural exchange and constant evolution.

From Summer Solstice celebrations in Milton Keynes to ritual scenes inspired by the folk song John Barleycorn, Edge’s works teem with hybrid figures – part man, part animal, part plant – and spectral presences that exist beyond time. In an increasingly urban world, these works serve to remind us that we are not separate from nature, but part of it – deeply and inextricably woven into its fabric.'

-From https://www.fitzroviachapel.org/event/ben-edge-children-of-albion/2025-11-24/

Afterwards we will be going for optional social drinks/coffee/lunch, details tbc so check back closer to the time!