RUST is a sculptural exhibition showcasing work developed by Elrick Boldy, Ewan Summerton and Iona Ogilvy-Stuart during their residency at Assembly House throughout the Accelerator Bursary 2026. This exhibition presents a material dialogue between the perceived finality of metal, and the fragility of organic forms. RUST explores the threshold between the natural and the manufactured. Showcasing the diverse contextual practices of each artist, this exhibition aims to display the underlying connections of their works through the material.

Exploring the liminality of communication through asemic writing, Elrick’s practice considers the boundaries between written language and shape. Interested in the bodily action of writing, his practice considers idiosyncrasies in the handwritten word and how this translates to non-semantic mark-making. Elrick’s steel sculptures are formed into curved organic shapes, echoing expressions from inscribed asemic signs.

Iona’s interdisciplinary practice spans sculpture, drawing, printmaking and photography, exploring the integration and disintegration of materials. Her sculptural work contemplates biomorphic, bodily forms and the material processes that occur between intention and finished object. Foregrounding the temporary materials that enable bronze production rather than bronze’s cultural status, Iona’s work questions hierarchies of value between the permanent and ephemeral.

In an era defined by digital surveillance and technological advancements, Ewan’s practice seeks to expose and interrogate the hidden infrastructures that govern modern daily life. Through sculpture and video-based works, he aims to materialise the often-invisible mechanisms of control within surveillance. Ewan’s work encourages viewers to consider the implications of living under inescapable observation, evoking discourse on autonomy, privacy, and the human condition in the digital age.

The Accelerator Bursary is funded by Leeds Art Fund and delivered by Leeds Art Gallery in partnership with Assembly House.