Seeing Rhonda: Exhibition and Archives of a Birmingham Photography Pioneer
The work, activism, and lasting influence of photographer Rhonda Wilson are being brought back into the light in a brand-new exhibition, Seeing Rhonda, making its debut alongside the official launch of the Rhonda Wilson Community Archive at The Old Print Works.
Spanning more than three decades of work from the 1980s to the 2010s, this project is a tribute to a woman who changed the cultural landscape of our city.
Photographer and Activist
She was a photographer, journalist, educator, cultural entrepreneur and activist, championing Birmingham women and social change through her photography, tackling issues like low pay, homelessness, and women’s representation.
Photographs, letters, posters and publications sit alongside personal notes, sketches and overlooked ephemera, revealing how she worked, collaborated and built opportunities for others.
Archives return to Balsall Heath
Initiated by Dr. Annette Naudin (Associate Professor at Birmingham City University) in partnership with The Old Print Works and PRISM Photography Network, the project brings Rhonda’s legacy back to where she lived and worked.
“It is very fitting to have Rhonda’s archive in Balsall Heath where, in 1989, she set up the Poseurs Studio and Gallery with fellow photographer Ming de Nasty. The process of uncovering letters of thanks, rolls of her photographs and her personal notes is both exciting and profoundly moving.”
Dr Annette Naudin
From co-founding Poseurs Studio and Gallery in the late 1980s to developing influential initiatives such as Seeing the Light (founded 1995) and Rhubarb-Rhubarb (founded 1999). Personal letters included in the archive offer a powerful insight into Wilson’s impact, documenting how her support shaped careers and opened doors for emerging photographers. The archive and exhibition bring into focus the contributions of women too often absent from formal collections, and reframing Birmingham’s cultural history through their work.
“We are delighted to host the Rhonda Wilson Community Archive here at The Old Print Works and to have the opportunity to shine a light on this important part of the city’s cultural history. Rhonda’s influence and impact on photographers and creatives is evident and we look forward to developing the archive further.”
Hannah Greenwood & Rebecca Tura, Interim Co-CEOs, The Old Print Works
“She thrived on creativity, she based her world upon it…One of the last things she said to me recently was ‘If an image can hold you for a second, then take you on a journey somewhere secret, peaceful or magical or tell a story to the viewer, it’s a true reflection of the person that made it’. To the very end she talked about light.”
John McQueen
Plan Your Visit
The exhibition is free (though donations to support the archive are very welcome!).
| Event | Dates & Times | Location |
| Main Exhibition Run | Tuesday 23 June – Saturday 27 June 11am-5pm | The Old Print Works, Balsall Heath |
| The Official Launch Event | Thursday 25 June 6pm-8pm | The Old Print Works, Balsall Heath |
| Special July Opening | Saturday 11 July (As part of Balsall Heath Second Saturday and Balsall Heath Community Festival) 11am-4pm | The Old Print Works, Balsall Heath |
Where to find it:
The Old Print Works, 498-506 Moseley Road, Balsall Heath, Birmingham, B12 9AH.
For more information about the ongoing archive project, you can reach out to research lead Dr. Annette Naudin at an************@****ac.uk.
