Modern slavery survivors to exhibit art across landmark London spaces: “I felt freedom, liberation and rebirth”

• Hestia’s Art is Freedom exhibit will appear at Trafalgar Square, London Bridge Station, St Pancras International and Aldwych in between 12 October and 8 November.
• Art is Freedom showcases the work of survivors of contemporary slavery.
• Art is Freedom will take control of Piccadilly Lights on Anti-Slavery Day (18 October).
• In 2025, 16,362 grownups were determined as possible victims of modern-day slavery by designated federal government very first responders

Embargoed for 12 October 2026

This October, art work produced by survivors of modern-day slavery will be shown throughout main London’s landmark areas as part of Hestia’s yearly Art is Freedom exhibit.

The exhibit gets in touch with Londoners to acknowledge the terrible effect of contemporary slavery and the value of supporting survivors to recover their identities after exploitation.

Going For Marble Arch on 12th Octoberthis complimentary exhibit will take a trip throughout London throughout October and into November, with display screens at Trafalgar Square, London Bridge Station, St Pancras International and The Strand/ Aldwych.

On Anti-Slavery Day, 18 October, the artists’ work will likewise take control of the world-famous Piccadilly Lights for 10 minutes.

Where to see Art is Freedom

The exhibit is totally free to check out, without any reservation needed.

• Marble Arch: 12-17 October
• London Bridge Station: 12-25 October
• St Pancras International: 12-25 October
• Piccadilly Lights: 18 October, Anti-Slavery Day
• Trafalgar Square 18-23 October
• Aldwych: 23 October-8 November

Art is Freedom is more than an exhibit. It is the conclusion of a series of artist-led workshops that provide survivors the time, products and assistance to explore their imagination. The exhibit is provided in partnership with Ashurst Perkins Coie and We Soda, with artist-led workshops assisted in by Create, EPIC Arts, Gawain Hewitt, and MN.

Hestia supports individuals who have actually experienced crisis and injury to discover security, hope and function, consisting of survivors of contemporary slavery. Modern slavery is the exploitation of individuals for individual or business gain through force, browbeating, deceptiveness or abuse. In 2025, 16,362 grownups were recognized as prospective victims of contemporary slavery by designated federal government initially responders. The covert nature of the criminal activity, the severe mental control worked out by traffickers, and useful barriers such as the absence of paperwork typically make it difficult for victims to supply evidence of their exploitation, which can result in victims being avoided to gain access to life-altering assistance.

This year’s style, This is mewas picked by the survivor-artists themselves. It welcomed them to check out and commemorate who they are beyond their experiences of contemporary slavery. Curated by a panel of survivors and the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Eleanor Lyons, the exhibit highlights both the continuing truth of contemporary slavery in the UK and the strength, strength and imagination of those who have actually experienced it.

JR is a Survivor- Artist. JR was born in London and trafficked abroad as a kid. He wasn’t enabled to paint as a kid, however fifty years later on his art work will be shown throughout London. JR stated:

“When I was 4 years of ages, I was trafficked and sent out abroad. When I was around 5, I attempted to draw something, however I was bullied and stopped. I still enjoyed art, for 50 years it held both sorrow and enthusiasm for me. When I got to the Art is Freedom workshops, I felt invited and safe. The style ‘This is me’ permitted me to concentrate on myself and discover my own identity through the images I was producing. Art is Freedom revealed me that there were still things I might do. It not just provided me hope and made me feel effective; it assisted me come out of the darkness. I felt liberty, freedom and renewal.”

Read JR’s story: JR’s Journey: Freedom Through Art

LV is likewise a Survivor- Artist. After being separated for the majority of her life, discovering her feet has actually been frustrating. Art is Freedom offered her a safe area to paint, make buddies and handle her stress and anxiety.

With injury, you wind up with a great deal of self-respect concerns. I battle with having an identity and understanding who I am. I ended up choosing that I might discover those things in what I like and what’s around me. Like flowers, for instance, and nature and the sky. I’m actually pleased with the work I produced, which normally is something that I would battle with. With whatever else in my life being demanding it was a little bubble I might enter into, and not need to fret about things.”

Read LV’s story: LV’s Journey: Art, Healing & & Freedom

Patrick Ryan, Chief Executive of Hestia stated:

“Modern slavery is an awful criminal activity, however an individual’s experience of it need to never ever be enabled to specify them. Art is Freedom provides survivors the area to reveal who they are and reveals the function imagination can play in restoring self-confidence, hope and identity after injury.

“These works will be seen by countless individuals throughout the capital, from Trafalgar Square to the Piccadilly Lights on Anti-Slavery Day. We hope Londoners will stop briefly, and put in the time to think about individuals and stories behind the art work.

“Ending contemporary slavery needs action from everybody. By going to and sharing Art is Freedom, Londoners can magnify survivors’ voices, raise awareness of the reality modern-day slavery is happening on our doorstep, and play their own part in ending it.”