As a child, Miguel Sobreira spent years making puppets from toilet rolls and creating stories for them. As an adult, his search for the art and imagery he wanted to make led him back to that place of innocence, imagination and freedom.
Born in Africa and shaped by his Portuguese heritage and the experience of spending most of his life in the United Kingdom, Sobreira’s work reflects a multiplicity of histories, cultures and lived experiences. He does not see himself as defined by a singular identity, but rather as the product of the many influences that came before him.
Through mask-making, Sobreira creates alter egos and deities that are both invented and subconsciously autobiographical. Rather than concealing, the masks become a means of revelation, allowing him to express ideas, emotions and truths that might otherwise remain unspoken.
Many of the masks are made from recycled organic materials, reflecting his connection to the earth. Others incorporate fabric and found objects, paying homage to the ingenuity of South African street artisans who create from whatever materials are available. Ritual, play and the act of making are central to his practice. The process is meditative and immersive, with the search for materials—particularly textiles—forming an integral part of the work. Each fabric, texture and object contributes to the character that emerges, while the textiles themselves carry their own histories, journeys and stories.
Photography completes the work. Through movement, light and performance, Sobreira inhabits each persona before documenting it. Created either in the studio or within the landscape, the resulting images exist somewhere between self-portraiture, fashion and documentary photography.
Each figure is an amalgamation of what has come before and what may yet be. Sobreira’s work suggests that people are more than the singular identities they construct for themselves: they are composed of inherited histories, lived experiences and imagined possibilities.
“I dreamed a people into being.”
Miguel Sobreira: “Becoming”28 September – 23 October 2026
Open View: 1 October 2026 at 7pm
Gallery 1885The Camera Club16 Bowden StreetLondon SE11 4DS
The exhibition is presented by The Camera Club, established in 1885.
