An emerging Sunderland-born artist photographer is bringing his debut solo exhibition to his home city.

Bottoms by Dean Raymond Gooch showcases a new series of large photographic works, screenprints and risograph prints exploring gay identity and communities through striking imagery drawing on legacies of pop art, advertising and fashion photography.

One of Dean's images from the exhibition | Courtesy of the artist

placeholder image — One of Dean's images from the exhibition | Courtesy of the artist

It goes on display at on Saturday, January 31, in NGCA’s main gallery within National Glass Centre.

Dean graduated from the University of Sunderland’s BA Fine Art programme last year and is now studying an MA at the university. He was nominated for the New Blood Art - Emerging Art Prize 2025, which recognises outstanding graduate artists from UK Fine Art programmes.

Dean was also awarded The Lizzie Rowe Award.

Jon Weston, Curator of NGCA, said: “The images are carefully composed using props and bold colour combinations in a theatrical and playful way speaking to pride, community and solidarity in the face of continued homophobia, discrimination and violence.”

The exhibition contains mild nudity and adult themes, and has been produced in partnership with University of Sunderland Fine Art and the Northern Centre of Photography.

Bottoms is one in a duo of exhibitions opening at the end of the month at NGCA.

Also opening at NGCA on January 31 is Smoke and Mirrors, which draws on artworks from NGCA’s collection in a group show exploring contemporary landscapes through photography, painting, sculpture, film, digitally generated artwork and drawing.

Nicola Maxwell's Enclosure piece from the Smoke and Mirrors exhibition | Courtesy of the artist

The exhibition features artwork by 15 contemporary artists and photographers who challenge our understanding of landscape through digitally rendered and manipulated imagery, artificial immersive environments and imaginative fictional worlds.

Jon said: “After the lovely response we had last year to The Skin We Live In: Portraits from the NGCA Collection we are thrilled to once again dig into NGCA’s collection, this time to uncover contemporary landscapes.

“The artists included in the exhibition use inventive approaches to capturing 21 st century landscapes in a world increasingly mediated through digital screens. The artworks in the exhibition use illusion and digital technologies to challenge our understanding of traditional landscapes.”

Smoke and Mirrors, and Bottoms will be at at NGCA until Tuesday, May 26.

A preview event for both exhibitions will be held on Friday, January 30 between 6pm – 8pm.

Everyone is welcome and free tickets can be ordered at: https://www.sunderlandculture.org.uk/whats-on/exhibition-preview-smoke-and-mirrors/