In 2016, Modern Art Oxford marks 50 years as an internationally acclaimed powerhouse of contemporary visual culture. Celebrating the role art plays in shaping our perception of the world, KALEIDOSCOPE offers a shifting prism on an illustrious history founded upon the vision of artists.

Iconic works from the past return to the gallery from across the globe, as part of a dynamic year-long programme of displays, commissions, performances, talks and events including work by artists new to Modern Art Oxford.

Over 700 exhibitions have been presented at Modern Art Oxford since the gallery was founded 50 years ago. KALEIDOSCOPE does not aim to be a definitive history by any means. It offers a snapshot of some of the many highlights in our history and reflects on some of the key ideas in contemporary art over the past half a century.

The artists in this exhibition adopt forms from nature and employ the body to explore ideas relating to memory, space, land, politics and endurance. An exhibition tour and live band launch this opening night of the fourth exhibition in the KALEIDOSCOPE series featuring Marina Abramović, Mohammed Qasim Ashfaq, Helen Chadwick, Dorothy Cross, Richard Long, Agnes Martin, Otobong Nkanga, Yoko Ono and Hannah Rickards.

Join us for a special preview of KALEIDOSCOPE It’s Me to the World on Friday 19 August from 6.30pm. The event begins with the premier tour of the new exhibition, hosted by Emma Ridgway, Head of Programme, followed by an opportunity to explore the show before alt-rock band Kagoule perform in the Basement.