About

Osman Yousefzada takes a deeply personal look at migration, identity and community in Where It Began, a special solo exhibition that forms part of the countdown to Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. 

Where It Began invites us to consider themes of class, immigration and colonialism. The title serves as a metaphor that spans across timelines, from the historical relationships between the British Empire and South Asia to the arrival in Bradford of Yousefzada’s father during the wave of Commonwealth migration in the 1960s. It also speaks to the history of labour at Crofts Engineers and ideas of belonging, identity and home.

Where It Began presents work both inside and outside Cartwright Hall Art Gallery. The hall will showcase handcrafted textiles, sculptures and new wrapped artworks – while outside in Lister Park, Yousefzada is giving Diana the Huntress an unexpected new adornment. 

Bringing together works from Yousefzada’s recent solo show at the V&A with new works created especially for Bradford, Where It Began is the first of several events presented by Bradford 2025 leading up to our year as UK City of Culture. 

Where It Began is presented in partnership between Bradford Museums and Galleries and Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. 

Image: Untitled 2022, © Francesco Allegretto