A Playground for the Overwhelmed

A Playground for the Overwhelmed was Alice Irwin's first solo exhibition with Gillian Jason Gallery, bringing together a new body of sculpture and one-of-a-kind prints that explored the playground as both a physical place and a psychological landscape. The exhibition considered how spaces of play can offer moments of pause, imagination and connection within the pace and pressures of everyday life.

Blending humour with introspection, the works navigated the contradictions of childhood and adulthood—joy and anxiety, confidence and vulnerability, nostalgia and uncertainty. Through bold colour, tactile forms and recurring characters, visitors were invited to reflect on shared memories while embracing the unexpected and the absurd.

Presented at Gillian Jason Gallery, the exhibition marked an important milestone in Irwin's practice, introducing a significant new body of work and further developing her ongoing exploration of play as a tool for conversation, wellbeing and human connection.