Leeds abstract surrealist Nicolas Dixon, outside WET, in Micklegate, York, where his exhibition launches the RARE v WET venture tomorrow
RARE, York artist and event organiser Sharon McDonagh’s new venture, will hold its launch party tomorrow at WET, the independent wine bar and restaurant in Micklegate, York.
Known as a key organiser of 2023 to 2025’s groundbreaking Educated Vandals, Rise Of The Vandals and VandalFest charity street art events in the disused office block on Low Ousegate, Sharon has teamed up with friend and fellow artist/DJ Sola as RARE Collective to continue their mission to champion the overlooked, the creatives, the independents and the underdogs while supporting York charities.
Opening tomorrow at 6pm, the first project is the debut RARE v WET art exhibition in support of SASH (Safe and Sound Homes), featuring Leeds abstract surrealist Nicolas Dixon, on show until April 22. Further solo exhibitions by artists from Yorkshire and beyond will be held there, from which a percentage of sales will go to the charity.
WET proprietors James Wall and Ella Williams
“RARE Collective will be collaborating with other creatives and businesses that rewrite the rules of events, art and community culture in York and are looking forward to working with Art of Protest, who are curating the forthcoming Acomb Fest in July,” says Sharon.
“I’m incredibly excited to launch this new venture and to have the freedom to collaborate with other creatives, curate exhibitions and street art events and organise collaborations and workshops through RARE Collective in support of SASH and other local charities. It carries the same ethos, passion and hard graft as before, just with a new crew and fresh energy.
“What drives me is the opportunity to use creativity and experience to bring people together: organising events, working with artists and creatives, and supporting young people and adults from all backgrounds to have a voice, share their work and raise funds that can genuinely make a difference.”
DJ/artist Sola: Linking up with Sharon McDonagh to launch RARE Collective
Sharon continues: “After working with SASH on our last two events, it’s a real pleasure to collaborate with their fantastic team again. Over the past three years, we’ve been humbled by the incredible artists, DJs, volunteers and businesses who have supported what we do, and we’re excited to continue building on that momentum.
“We’re also grateful to our sponsors, Mack and Lawler Ltd and York Digital Image, whose continued financial support makes these events possible.”
Looking forward to tomorrow’s launch, artist, DJ and RARE member Sola says: “It’s great to team up with Sharon and be part of RARE Collective. We’ve been friends for several years and I’m humbled to be able to present such an amazing array of local music talents, from DJs to producers, and help connect the dots between music and visual arts.
Nicolas Dixon at work on a mural
“As Sola, I combine all these elements when producing my own artworks and am excited for what lies ahead.”
WET was opened by Ella Williams and James Wall on October 15 last year. “At WET, we’re a tiny team – we’ve just taken on our first employee – running a wine bar/restaurant in the centre of York on Micklegate,” say Ella and James.
“We prioritise seasonal cooking in our small plates, with lots of offal and North Yorkshire produce. Our wine list focuses on smaller growers, lower intervention bottles and changes once a week. There’s a popular roast every Sunday, and regular vinyl nights keep things exciting.
RARE Collective artist and co-organiser Sharon McDonagh, left, with Pam Anthony and Aimee Harding from SASH
“We met working in hospitality and have always championed independents. We’re happy to be a part of an ever-changing and growing York food, drink and cultural scene. We are therefore really happy to be able to collaborate with RARE Collective to host art exhibitions in support of local youth homeless charity SASH.”
The first artist in the RARE v WET spotlight is Leeds-born, internationally acclaimed abstract surrealist Nicolas Dixon, whose murals and artworks are known all over the world.
Closer to home, his large-scale murals have become landmarks in Leeds, including at Kirkgate Market, Trinity Shopping Centre and the University of Leeds, as well as several Leeds United tributes, such as the 1972 FA Cup Winners mural at Elland Road and the iconic Bielsa the Redeemer mural at the Pet Lodge Superstore, on Oldfield Lane, Wortley, featuring former Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa in the style of Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer statue.
Nicolas Dixon’s 2020 mural Bielsa the Redeemer on Oldfield Lane, Wortley, Leeds
“It’s an absolute pleasure to be teaming up with RARE Collective and WET in support of SASH for the first in a series of exhibitions at WET hosted by RARE,” says Nicolas. “Having worked with Sharon at last year’s charity street art event Vandalfest in York, it was a no-brainer when she asked if I’d like to be the first artist to exhibit for her exciting new collective.
“The show will feature a mixture of new and older work – prints and originals. It should look pretty special in this cool space on Micklegate. It’s great to be supporting SASH and hopefully raise some funds to contribute to the amazing work they do for the youth homeless community in York. Really looking forward to it. See you there.”
SASH says: “We are really excited to be able to work with Sharon again; she always goes above and beyond to ensure her projects come together and is an absolute pleasure to work with. She feels like an extension of the SASH team!
“Sharon always brings such a positive attitude and energy to make things happen, getting results and making a real difference to the lives of those around her and the communities she works with. Her new venture with Sola is a fresh take on what they have already built over the past few years and we are looking forward to working with RARE Collective.”
Artist Nicolas Dixon
Nicolas Dixon: Back story
ABSTRACT surrealist, born in Leeds, whose work spans continents, with murals and artworks on display in Ibiza, Melbourne, New York, Barcelona, Antwerp, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Goa.
His large-scale murals have become landmarks in Leeds, from Kirkgate Market to Trinity Leeds, University of York to Bielsa the Redeemer in Wortley, hailed by Goal magazine as one of the most famous murals in world football.
Alongside his international work, Nicolas has completed high-profile commissions, most notably being selected by Universal Studios as one of six artists to transform Brick Lane, London, into “Yellow Brick Lane” for the global launch of the film Wicked: For Good.
A surrealist mural by Nicolas Dixon
Deeply bonded to the underground house music scene, Nicolas has collaborated with clubs in the UK and Ibiza, including Pacha and Octan, where his 50m mural was created atop the entire club, as well as working with DJ/producers such as Nightmares On Wax and Eats Everything.
He has partnered with Rhodes Music, inventors of the electric piano associated with Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Ray Manzarek and Ray Charles, creating a hand-painted edition of their MK8 model, along with a run of 40 limited-edition versions. He has collaborated with Technics too, hand-painting their iconic 1210 turntables.
The poster for Nicolas Dixon’s exhibition on one wall at WET, Micklegate, York
Noted for his biomorphic shapes, bold colour schemes and instantly recognisable style, Nicolas has worked with major brands such as Adidas, Ribble Bikes, Disney/Star Wars, Jägermeister, BBC, Team GB and the NHS.
Last July, his first-floor collaboration with Bristol graffiti and street art pioneer Inkie was a highlight of VandalFest at Low Ousegate, York.
As an ambassador for the charity Last Night A DJ Saved My Life, he leads art workshops and mural projects with street-affected youth in Africa.
“We are the greatest in the land”: Nicolas Dixon’s mural of Leeds United’s 1972 FA Cup winners at Elland Road