Explore our past EXCHANGE events here.

The EXCHANGE programme brings together AORA members online and in person. Online events and pop-ups are accessible to all, whilst exclusive members events are available via our membership programme.

MEMBERSHIP
AORA Pop-Up, London, June 2021
HORIZONS SPACE, NFTs & NEPENTHE VALLEY

WED 23 FEB | 1PM GMT
Find out more about AORA, our partnership with so-far and the future for HORIZONS. Architect Benni Allan will introduce the new gallery space we have created to introduce Lawrence’s work within HORIZON’s virtual space. Lawrence will introduce us to his practice and the concept which will be launched at Art Dubai: Nepenthe Valley, curated by Jenn Ellis.

DINNER CLUB: GOLD, Notting Hill

MON 22 NOV | 6PM GMT
Join AORA for a bespoke evening in an intimate setting to explore Gold’s Mediterranean-inspired menu, that exudes colour, taste and modern freshness, with a focus on produce-led, minimal intervention cooking.


ART & THE MIND

WED 7 APRIL | 6PM BST
An exchange between art world professionals around the topic of ‘Art & The Mind’. AORA:III exhibitor and artist Katy Moran was joined by art historian Dr Flavia Frigeri (Chanel Curator for the Collection, National Portrait Gallery), and curator Mels Evers (Assistant Curator of Displays, Tate).

WAYS OF SEEING

WED 31 MAR | 6PM GMT
Join us for a discussion between art historian and critic Ian Bourland, artist Sam Nhlengethwa, independent curator Louise O’Kelly as well as collector and patron Myriam Segen Semere and around the topic of ‘Ways of Seeing.

FUNCTIONALITY IN CONTEMPORARY ART

WED 17 MAR | 6PM GMT
Join us for an exchange between design and art world professionals around the topic of functionality in contemporary art. AORA Open Call Finalist Adeline de Monseignat will be joined by Dakin Hart, Sofia Hagen & Lisa Hinderdael and Hena Lee.

IN CONVERSATION WITH JANE BUSTIN AND IMOGEN KWOK

WED 24 MARCH | 6PM GMT
AORA food events bring together an artist to join a conversation with food designer Imogen Kwok. Join our next talk with Imogen and artist Jane Bustin.

BUILDING A COLLECTION

WED 10 MARCH | 6PM GMT
Join us in an inquisitive exchange between leading figures around collection-building. Ranging from personal to corporate collections, real-life to digital artworks, and emerging to established artists, the internationally-ranged panelists will share their unique viewpoints that guide their cutting-edge approach to building collections.

US & SPACES

WED 3 MARCH | 6PM GMT
Please join us for the upcoming talk Us and Spaces, a conversation between Oren Pinhassi (artist), Dr. Helen Pheby (Curator) and Spencer Bailey (Writer). Chaired by co-founders Jenn Ellis and Benni Allan.

FOOD EVENT: JINYONG PARK

WED 24 FEB | 6PM GMT
AORA food events bring together an artist to join a conversation with food designer Imogen Kwok. Hear from Jinyong Park, her work and the inspiration behind this beautiful dish.

DIGITALLY NATIVE

WED 17 FEB | 6PM GMT
AORA is delighted to bring together an esteemed panel to talk about the theme ‘Digitally Native’. Speakers include AORA Open Call Sculpture Finalist, Amba Sayal-Bennet (artist), Sarah Forman (writer) and Melanie Pocock (curator).

AORA SCULPTURE: OPEN CALL ROUND UP

WED 10 FEB
Join the artists and judging panel for a discussion about the Sculpture Open Call. AORA promotes a series of intimate online gatherings, bringing together conversations about art and wellbeing. To join please sign up to Exchange.

AORA:III TOUR

WED 3 FEB
Please join co-founders architect Benni Allan and curator Jenn Ellis for the first tour of AORA:III where they will introduce the new exhibition and the ideas behind the virtual space. To find out more and to tune in please follow the link to EXCHANGE or click the image to take you to the event page.

INNOCENT NKURUNZIZA X JORDAN ASHLEY

WED 9 DEC
We invite you to join an in conversation between exhibiting artist Innocent Nkurunziza and AORA Community Member Jordan Ashley.

FOOD: LEPROUS BRIGHTNESS

WED 2 DEC | 1PM GMT
Explore food designer Imogen Kwok’s response to ‘This Leprous Brightness’ (2019) by exhibiting artist Imran Qureshi. We invite you to join an in conversation and culinary exchange exploring the various elements within Imran’s and Imogen’s contemplative response.

HOW DO WE CONSUME?

WED 18 NOV | 6PM GMT
Join us for an in conversation that addresses ‘how we consume’ with leading experts across art, design and fashion. As advocates of conscious collecting across the board, we question habits, approaches, methods and put forward ideas for the present and future.

FOOD: TIME LOST

WED 11 NOV | 12PM BST
Explore food designer Imogen Kwok’s creative response to exhibiting artist Dawn Ng’s Time Lost Falling in Love. We invite you to join a conversation between the two creatives that will discuss Imogen’s contemplative culinary response to the various elements within Dawn’s work.

TENSIONS OF STORYTELLING

WED 4 NOV
Our next in conversation is between artist Reena Saini Kallat and writer Dr Cleo Roberts. Please join us in this fascinating discussion about the Tensions of Storytelling.

MOVEMENT WITH AORA II

WED 29 OCT
Join the AORA community in building a sequence of yoga inspired shapes to create mindful action led by Jordan Ashley. To be part of Exchange please join our subscription with access to all AORA events.

FOOD: TANGLED IN THE STARS

WED 21 OCT
Join food designer Imogen Kwok and discover her response to Getting Tangled in the Stars, 2015 by Mona Rai, an exploration of shapes, colours and textures. We welcome you to join the conversation about the recipe and the artwork with representatives from Nature Morte. You are welcome to join whether you’ve created the dish or not.

EXCHANGE: AORA FORUM

WED 26 AUG | 7PM BST

Conversation between AORA:I participants and moderated by our founders Benni Allan and Jenn Ellis.


FOOD: LONG ENDING (OCHRE)

WED 12 AUG
Explore food designer Imogen Kwok’s response to Long Ending (Ochre) by David Murphy. The thoughtfully created recipe creatively showcases both materials and methods utilized by David in his works. Join Imogen and David’s conversation about their creative processes. You are welcome to join whether you’ve created the dish or not.

AORA:I CURATOR & ARCHITECT TOUR

WED 19 AUG
Please join co-founders architect Benni Allan and curator Jenn Ellis for a final tour of AORA:I where they will introduce the story behind the virtual space and the artists exhibited.

MOVEMENT: DITTO WHITE

WED 5 AUG
Inspired by Adia Wahid’s “Ditto White,” you will be using pattern making to guide your movement. The practice will begin and close with meditation. Join the AORA community in building a sequence of yoga inspired shapes to create mindful action led by Jordan Ashley.

ART & HEALTH

WED 29 JULY
Join us for a conversation about the relationship between art and health. Hear from Gabriel Hartley (Artist), Catsou Roberts (Director, Vital Arts, Barts Health NHS Trust), Helen Pheby (Head of Curatorial Programme, Yorkshire Sculpture Park), and Claire Booth (PhD Researcher).

FOOD: PLACE

WED 22 JULY
In this upcoming discussion, discover a dish created by Imogen Kwok, inspired by exhibiting artist Peter McDonald’s work: Place. Join the AORA community for this intimate interdisciplinary conversation about the dish and the ideas behind Peter’s artwork.

MOVEMENT: PINECONE

WED 15 JULY

Join the AORA community to be part of a new journey through movement. In this slow flow moving meditation session led by Jordan Ashley, we will be examining the complex and multifaceted elements that we are made from. Inspired by Helen McCusker’s Pinecone, you will be invited to explore the different shapes, colours, and moods that are painted on our own individual canvases.

ART, SPACES, GEOGRAPHIES

WED 8 JULY
Join us for an in conversation about art, spaces and geographies between exhibited artist Gerhard Marx (South Africa), Bianca Chu (Independent Curator & Art Consultant, London) and Mukami Kuria (co-founder The Gathering, Nairobi/London) moderated by Jenn Ellis (AORA co-founder, Curator). We’ll explore Gerhard Marx’s practice, how art can relate to space and places, how these are evolving and the role geographies – both actual and virtual – play.

FOOD: FOOT OF THE MOUNTAIN

WED 1 JULY
Food designer Imogen Kwok has created a special dish that responds to At the Foot of the Mountain by Gabriela Girelotti that is on view in Hall I. Join the AORA community, Imogen, and Gabriela in an engaging culinary experience by cooking the recipe and sharing your dining experience.
to read, see here

Her recipe explores the contrast in textures she noticed in the painting. Smooth and silky consistency and crispy fragments are balanced together and accented with a sense of airiness that Imogen felt in Gabriela’s work.


MOVEMENT: NITROUS FLAME

WED 25 JUNE
Influenced by Mark Corfield-Moore’s textile work, Nitrous Flame, our guided yoga inspired movement experience will tease out shapes that evoke heat and fire. Paying homage to Jean Genet’s 1950 sensual film ‘A Love Story’ (banned at the time for its homoerotic content), we will let the movements ebb and flow and ultimately fizzle out into deep hip openings and a meditation offering contemplation and restoration.