WHAT? Self-Made: Reshaping Identities 

WHERE? Foundling Museum, 40 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AZ

WHEN? Now until 1st June 2025

WHY GO? To be challenged. Who are we and how do we fit in? Profound relevant questions to ponder, especially at this time of year when family is the focus of Christmas. If ever there was a Museum that questions identity, it’s the Foundling that has transformed the lives of abandoned children since 1739. 

Visiting the Museum itself is emotional as it tells of children whose mothers were unable to keep them and left ‘tokens’, as a means of identification to hopefully one day reclaim them. 

Their ongoing mission to inspire through culture continues today through intimate exhibitions that illustrate their core values.

This small thoughtful show explores how contemporary artists, working primarily with clay, moulding, crafting and creating shapes, reflect on the complexities of identity.

The age-old metamorphosis of sculpting can instantly transform and create a multitude of shift-changing narratives. 

Contemporary artists show works that explore their own personal concept of identity, touching on gender, class and cultural legacy. 

It’s a multifaceted mix from Rachel Kneebone’s pure white porcelain sculptures that focus on transformation through their fragility to Renee So’s work that strives to untangle the ‘shifty’ business of identity built on stereotypes.

Profound yes, but it invites us to personally reflect on how we adapt in today’s ever-changing world. 

IN THE KNOW  Want to dig deeper into the history of the Foundling Hospital and Museum, hear about their benefactors and see the original ‘tokens’ up close? 

Book a Sunday taster tour and be guided through the Picture Gallery, Court Room or George Handel Collection where the manuscript of his celebrated Messiah is on display.