sophie mason: bleeding out

Sophie Mason curates her debut exhibition ‘Bleeding Out’ featuring multidimensional work from artists from or with connections to Birmingham and the West Midlands - in collaboration with Cysters.

Is talking about medical misogyny enough? In 2026, discussions and news articles around the topic have started popping up online. One might say spreading awareness is a positive thing, but who is really listening?

Bleeding Out pulls you in and spits you out, confronting you with the reality of women and minority groups experiences within the UK healthcare system. Each piece of work has been carefully selected or created for this exhibition. The artwork is visceral, beautiful and showcases important, personal messages in a way that cannot be ignored.

Entering the exhibition space at Seventh Circle on the opening night, there was a warm and welcoming buzz. Featured artists were getting photographed with their work, attendees were grabbing a bite to eat, exploring the exhibition at their own pace and a sense of community was blossoming. As it was the opening night, I wanted to appreciate the energy within the space as well as the art itself. I took my time walking round, taking in the inspiration and mediums of the work in front of me. There was a lot to take in, but due to the layout of Seventh Circle, I was able to step away from the exhibition space to reflect before going back in to look at the work once more. 

As part of and in support of Bleeding Out, a number of events took place, including ‘Love Letters from your Cysters’ - an artistic workshop allowing for those impacted by health conditions to come together, share their experiences and express themselves. The work created at this event then became part of the exhibition. Mason explained to me that during this workshop attendees really connected and opened up which only highlights the power Bleeding Out has. In addition to this, an artist talk and curators tours were held.

I was fortunate enough to attend a curators tour to hear from Mason directly about the exhibition and what makes it so important. Bleeding Out featured a hospital gown, painted work, imagery printed on lycra, hand painted lettering, plaster and more -  the range of artistic mediums were representative of each individual experience but came together as part of the bigger picture.

Unheard Conversations by K'Zhayha James, a multidisciplinary artist exploring black womanhood, motherhood identity and nostalgia, stood out to me. Plaster encased objects including breast pads, dummies and baby socks sunk into the white wall, preserving the hidden realities of motherhood and its difficulties. There was something so simple, yet so powerful about this piece with the plaster acting as a physical reminder of experiences that may otherwise fade over time.

The appropriately named Hospital Gown by Larissa Shaw incorporates textiles, embroidery, screenprints and even Shaw’s own blood. At first, it seems like a simple hospital gown placed over a chair similar to what you might find in a hospital waiting room - but the piece invites you to look closer. The gown prompts for analysis of medical records and centuries of discourse, shaping social and institutional attitudes towards marginalised bodies. Shaw researches European witch trials and hysteria diagnosis. This influence has made its way into the gown and explores how these historic biases have impacted endometriosis care. Many will have their own experiences with and feelings about hospital gowns - Shaw’s piece acts as a reminder that all of our stories matter and deserve to be heard if we wish to share them.

From her own reflections on the exhibition, Mason explained that it went better than she could have ever anticipated. Visitors connected with the themes and felt comfortable enough to share their own experiences and stories. Highlights included the artists and curators talk, coinciding with Digbeth First Friday where artists Amelia Fox, K’Zhayha James and Leah Hickey spoke about their work and Cysters CEO Neelam Heera-Shergill was welcomed to speak about the charity’s involvement with bleeding out and the artwork that was created together.

Feedback has been received in regards to touring the exhibition. Myself and many others are excited to see what Sophie Mason does next and how the message of Bleeding Out will continue to be amplified. 

Artists:

Amelia Fox, Charlie Fitz, Leah Hickey, Larissa Shaw, Sally Butcher, Z’Khayha James, Yasmeen Fathima Thantrey.