- -
Date(s)
- -
- -
- -
Contact Person
Mobile
Venue Address
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
Gateshead Quays
South Shore Road
Gateshead NE8 3BA
United Kingdom
Sofia Barton Pop-up Shop
Sat 18 Apr - Sun 27 Sep 2026
Sofia Barton's Shop2 takeover celebrates the "hidden" heritage and community leaders of our region, showcasing the vibrant work from her celebrated ‘Trailblazers’ mural, commissioned for the new fleet of Tyne and Wear Metro trains.
The Project: Art Rooted in Archive
Sofia Barton’s work is a vibrant act of reclamation and joy. Through rigorous research into the Tyne and Wear Archives and a curated collection of oral histories, Barton unearths the “Trailblazers" or the unsung icons who shaped the North East’s social, political and scientific soul.
By blending traditional aesthetics with contemporary storytelling, Barton’s visual identity, which is deeply rooted in her Punjabi heritage, celebrates an intersectional, anti-fascist and anti-racist history. Through a palette of radiant, defiant colours, she honours those who fought for a more equitable world.
Visitors to the space will encounter a visual journey exploring:
- The Activists: Witness the fierce spirit of Suffragette Kathleen Brown, the socialist fire of Ellen Wilkinson (leader of the Jarrow Crusade), and the foundational anti-racism work of Dr. Hari Shukla.
- The Community Builders: Honouring the legacy of Koon Kiu and Peter Cheng, founders of Newcastle’s Chinatown and the historic visit of abolitionist Frederick Douglass, whose presence solidified the region's long standing ties to global liberation movements.
- The Pioneers: Celebrating the first female naval architect Susan Mary Auld, world champion para-climber Abbie Robinson and the beloved drag icon Martin Greenfield - each representing the diverse fabric of our regional identity.
Limited Edition Prints & Social Impact
The narrative of the mural continues through a series of 12 exclusive prints. As part of this takeover, Baltic Shop 2 will stock a range of signed, limited edition pieces by Sofia Barton. These works offer a way to bring a piece of North East history into your home while directly supporting the local creative economy and the preservation of diverse narratives.