#UnfoldingJourneys: Celebrating the Creative Journeys of Adopted Adults Through Art
Adopt London South is proud to present #UnfoldingJourneys—an inspiring arts showcase celebrating identity, creativity, and resilience through the voices of adopted adults. The showcase will take place from 16–27 June 2025 in the Atrium at Southwark Council’s 160 Tooley Street offices, SE1 2QH and is free of charge, fully accessible to all visitors and open to public during office hours 9.00am-5.00pm.
This powerful exhibition brings together the creative work of adopted adults from across ten South London boroughs supported by Adopt London South—including Southwark, Lewisham, Greenwich, Croydon, Lambeth, Wandsworth, Merton, Sutton, Richmond, and Kingston.
Their creative arts—ranging from painting and photography to poetry and mixed media—offers a deeply personal reflection on journeys of self-discovery, healing, and belonging. Through the support of the Adopt London South Adopted Adult Support Group, these individuals have found a space to share, connect, and express what words alone cannot always capture. One anonymous participating artist wrote:
“Art helps me express myself, and it feels like a weight has been lifted when I get something out of my brain and body into an artwork. As an adoptee you grow up with subjects that are taboo, and a sense of gratitude that makes you keep quiet on certain issues. In art or music you can circumvent that. In this Adopted Adults group I have met people like myself with similar outlooks and stories that I could never talk about before, and that made me feel like a weirdo. It has made me realise that it is not necessarily me at fault, but the trauma I went through as an adopted child. Many of the adopted adults group are in their 50s like myself, we are still trying to understand our lives. The group, and my art, make me realise that this is an ongoing lifelong journey and not a quick fix.”
A Platform for Expression, Healing, and Connection
Many adopted adults carry complex emotions about identity and origin. Even within loving adoptive families, questions about the past can linger—unanswered, unresolved, yet ever-present. The Adopt London South Adopted Adult Support Group provides a safe, compassionate space for these individuals to explore their experiences and connect with others who understand.
Creativity is central to this healing process. Through art, adopted adults are not only able to tell their stories—they are able to reclaim them. Artist Holly Ann noted;
“For me, art is a perfect combination of both communication and therapy, especially for Adopted Adults like us who have experienced too hard and complex to put into words. Instead of having to think of the right words to say, I can express myself through creativity, alongside a wonderful group of people who can relate to, and understand how I feel, with the hope to share parts of our journey and experiences as adoptees.”
Vision and Mission Behind #UnfoldingJourneys
Our vision for the arts showcase is to create a space in society where adopted adults are seen, heard, and empowered—celebrating their creative journeys as vital expressions of identity, healing, and resilience. Our mission is to support adopted adults by providing a platform for self-expression, raising awareness of the lifelong impact of adoption, and honouring the individual journeys that shape identity and belonging.
Another artist Christine Shelley Webb AKA Shelley Anne Panting added: “The feeling never EVER left me. But I can show you my story through Art Design, so that I do not have to speak the words, I do not have to cry.”
We invite the public, community partners, council staff, and South London residents to visit the exhibition, share in these powerful journeys, and help raise awareness of the experiences of adopted adults. This is more than a creative art showcase—it’s a celebration of identity. Come witness #UnfoldingJourneys. Be moved. Be inspired. Be part of the story.