Meet the young creatives of Bristol making their mark

Nineteen-year-old Gabriel (Gabe) Kerfoot is a young artist with an eye for communication through aesthetics and illustration. After undertaking an art foundation course in Bristol and trying to create an installation for his final project, Gabe realised his ambition didn’t quite fit the criteria of the education system, when his teachers deemed his concepts “too ambitious in scale for the assignment at hand”. Despite this, however, Gabe decided he wasn’t going to let the reality of his situation interfere with his dreams.

Through discussions with friends, it was clear that there was a thirst for a creative outlet for the youth of Bristol – one that shared his vision for an atmosphere that was inclusive, celebratory and above all, without constraint. And on this premise art_ofgk events was born.

Gabriel Kerfoot experiments with abstract works exploring themes of emotion and environment

Often, especially with unestablished individuals wanting to rise through the creative industry, we tend to look upwards to pre-established platforms to promote ourselves and our works from. The idea that success is umpired by the slow crawl to the top makes for quite an unforgiving environment in which to navigate – especially for young people with little-to-no contacts.

Art_ofgk events aims to give young creatives a platform to share and celebrate each other’s creativity and works, whilst also providing the space for organic networking, skill sharing and positive connections. So, arming himself with an idea and the support from those around him, Gabe went forward, using his own family home in Westbury Park as the first venue in August 2018.

Gabe encouraged fellow young artists to bring works to decorate his home. From musicians and photographers, to painters and art installations makers, and with fresh vegan food crafted by artist and aspiring chef Keyane Allman – the rooms of his parents’ house were brought to life.

Chef Keyane Allman preparing his specialty, vegan food, at Gabe’s first art_ofgk event at his parents’ home

Up-and-coming musician’s Magnus Brandt (Mag) and Patch De Salis (Patch Productions) were also present, performing a set together inspired by the likes of grime, trap, hip-hop and other alternative influences.

Bristol-based photographers including Tristan Potokar and Jade Carr-Daley captured the night and covered the walls in Bristol-centric pieces including Jade’s black-and-white portraiture shots from her 0117 project.

Gabe’s abstract bold and contrasting monochromatic pieces also decorated the walls, embellished by another key area of Gabe’s work: colour. “I used neon lights to make it a transitory of outer space, as if you’re stepping into another world,” Gabe says. “I’m fascinated by the perceptual impact of light and the life it can give to a space and our way of seeing our surroundings.”

The wall’s of Gabe’s parent’s house were covered in various artist’s works, including this piece by Gabe exploring his feelings of growth and new horizons. Photo by Mikael Techane

Sharing in the inspiration and celebration of each other’s talents and works, this was only the catalyst for a new collective of Bristol creative culture – where those who had a vision were now able to have it realised also.

With an inspiring night under the belt of Bristol’s youth, it was clear that the mental constraints we often put upon ourselves aren’t always the reality we can choose to pioneer. Talking to artist’s that night, it was apparent that the ability to create is often one of a creative person’s biggest hurdles, where validation is concerned. Will we be successful in our passions? Is our work even good? These thoughts often form barricades, permitting us from unleashing our full potential.

Many of the young people who attended that first event have since gone off to university, continuing this ethos onwards to share with others. Those that aren’t going to uni continue confidently upwards, furthering their passions and influence within the disciplines they occupy.

Mag and Patch were two of the artists who performed at Gabe’s first event in August 2018. Photo by Tristan Pokotar

For Gabe, London is his next step for a degree in Fine Art at Central Saint Martin’s, and he plans to continue putting on events in the capital. “My events are about reclaiming freedom through my passion for creating environments to celebrate all forms of creativity, inspiring free thinking and discussion whilst also aiming to unify individuals culturally,” he told Bristol24/7.

“The first event was, for me, the clarification of the 0117 Collective – thinking about the frequency we operate on and what we’ll continue to do as a family and as individuals going forward. Despite the amazing physical works I know we’re capable of creating, for me the greatest art is created though the power of our shared passion and mindset.

“It’s the togetherness that makes it special in some ways – the physical art itself isn’t as important. It’s just a reflection of us as people. That’s what we want to inspire out here, and although we’re just starting out, this is just the beginning for us all. I think it’s about time the art scene and the world had a bit more of this.”

Gabe (centre) and friends at the end of the first art_ofgk event.

So what did Gabe learn from the first event, and what does he aim to do with his events in the future? “Going forward I hope for the platform to grow and for its reach to extend to more creatives and for more people to be inspired by the events and message of art_ofgk in Bristol and beyond,” he says. “I’ve just moved to London so I’m definitely going to continue the process out here also, and then hopefully one day outside of the UK too!”

So, whether it be in creative endeavours or your own personal projects outside the realm of art, Gabe’s ethos is something to learn from: all it takes is an idea, and waiting for someone else to present an opportunity will never be as effective as having the initiative to do for yourself. So, in this world where dreams and reality are shipped as separate, remember – your passion and drive are your greatest tools in combining the two.

Find out more about forthcoming events from Gabe by following @art_ofgkevents on Instagram.