Artists from Bluecoat's inclusive arts programme, Blue Room, to take over Lush

Artists from Blue Room, the Bluecoat’s inclusive arts programme with learning disabled and neurodivergent adults, to collaborate on an exciting new advent calendar design, window installation and celebration event at the flagship LUSH Liverpool store.

A large-scale mixed media piece by Blue Room artist Tess Gilmartin will be the featured artwork for one of three advent calendars from international cosmetic retailer LUSH. The piece, titled ‘Horse Big’ was previously displayed as a billboard on the exterior of the Bluecoat building. Gilmartin uses bright colours and expressive mark-making to create joyful paintings inspired by nature and the world around her.

The LUSH Liverpool store will also feature a brand new window installation by Gilmartin, titled ‘Flowers in the Window’, and will be on display during the weekend of Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th September.

To celebrate, Blue Room artists will ‘take over’ the LUSH Liverpool store with a celebration event on Sunday 29th September. The event will include drop-in creative workshops led by Blue Room artists and self advocates and allies from Project Collective, who are Mencap Liverpool & Sefton, Autism Initiatives, Natural Breaks and Options for Supported Living. The activities will celebrate diversity and the importance of making information accessible.

Artwork and merchandise created by Blue Room artists will also be available from a pop-up stall in the store, giving visitors a chance to meet some of the artists, purchase unique pieces of artwork and directly support Blue Room and the Bluecoat.

Across the store’s first floor will be a hidden trail of artworks created by Blue Room, inspired by Kayleigh Murray’s Gingerbread Party knot wrap and gift box design, with a final gingerbread treat available from the Bluecoat Cafe.

Becky Waite, Blue Room Project Manager said:

“We’re thrilled that Lush has chosen Tess’s beautiful work for this year’s advent calendar commission. Tess’s use of colour and line is so confident and joyful and this is a fantastic opportunity to share her work with people all over the world.”