Coming in JulyJason Wilsher-Mills exhibition
Friday 10 July 2026 - Sunday 3 January 2027
Come and immerse yourself in the bold, bright and brilliant world of artist Jason Wilsher-Mills this July in The Fine Gallery.
Jason creates vibrant characters, playful imagery and powerful storytelling through sculptures, digital paintings, wallpapers, animations, tapestries - and now, for this exhibition, figureheads (and bespoke wallpaper) too!
One of Jason's biggest inspirations for this exhibition comes from our historic figureheads. A visit to the museum and a wander through Poole Old Town sparked a long-held ambition: to create a brand‑new figurehead for an imaginary boat. And really, it was inevitable as Jason is named after a mythological sailor after all!
Drawing on historic maps of Poole, the museum’s maritime history, and the creaks, smells and stories of our buildings, Jason’s new figurehead is firmly rooted in place, Poole through and through, with a big splash of imagination.
Jason didn’t grow up going to galleries. He grew up going to the seaside. And it was there, on a fairground ride, that a painted image of Doctor Who stopped him in his tracks. Realising that someone had made paint look like something magical and alive set him on a creative path he’s been following ever since.
After a long childhood stay in hospital, Jason learned to paint with a brush held in his mouth. Reading, drawing and curiosity became his superpowers. His work is drenched in the spirit of the 1970s - comic books, children’s TV, seaside attractions and a glorious clash of colour where nothing quite matches, and that’s exactly the point.
This exhibition brings together a joyful collection of Jason’s work - and before you even get to The Fine Gallery, you’ll be greeted by one of the stand‑out artworks in our atrium, welcoming you as you arrive, a bold, colourful hello that sets the tone for what’s to come. Think of it as your invitation to step into Jason’s world.
The Poole connection
Jason first came to Dorset in 1992 as an art student, following a trail that led from T. E. Lawrence to Clouds Hill. Crossing the border was a light‑bulb moment, suddenly everything was greener than anything he’d ever seen. Growing up in an industrial area, those winding country lanes felt almost magical, and Dorset left a lasting impression.
Jason is drawn to places on the edge, and Dorset’s coastline has always pulled him in. Many of his exhibitions live close to the water - there’s something invigorating about the sea, whatever the weather. That connection deepened when he first walked into Poole Museum, with its wooden beams, layers of history and the sense that there’s something interesting wherever you look.
Exploring the museum and town inspired new ideas, and research trips also included time along the Poole's seafront - nostalgic, bracing, full of seaside joy. Really, that's hard to beat!
At the heart of Jason’s work is his lived experience of disability, which he explores with humour, warmth and honesty, while challenging the barriers faced by disabled people everyday. Rather than being hidden away, disability is presented as visible, creative and full of possibility. This approach connects closely with the museum's role as a place for shared stories, a inclusive museum rooted in local community and committed to showing lives, experiences and histories in all their richness.
By bringing his work to Poole, Jason invites local audiences and visitors alike to see familiar seaside life, maritime heritage and the museum itself through a more playful, inclusive and human lens.
Jason’s work often makes people laugh first. Then they pause, recognise something, remember something, and sometimes feel something stronger. Behind the bright colours and eccentric characters are stories about disability, resilience, seaside joy and childhood wonder.
So come on in. Be welcomed in the atrium. Climb or glide up to The Fine Gallery. And say hello to a new figurehead, and an exhibition unlike any other.
You will find the exhibiton on Level 4 of the museum in our Changing Exhibitons space, The Fine Gallery, a dedicated white box gallery which is generously supported by the Fine Family Foundation.
Image credit - top-bottom:
- Jason Wilsher-Mills, I Am Argonaut, Commissioned for Creative Folkestone Triennial 2021 and produced by Shape Arts as part of the Adam Reynolds Award. Photo by Thierry Bal
- The PiP Princess - Image credit: Jamie Bubb
- Image of Jason Wilsher-Mills in the Harbour Life Gallery in Poole Museum
- Corby Rocker - Image credit: Jamie Bubb