THE ART OF REJECTION – A Panel Discussion
Part of the REJECTS exhibition by Art Friend
Rejection is something every creative faces whether it’s from galleries, open calls, funding applications or even algorithms. But rather than hide it away, we’re opening it up.
On Wednesday 10th July, join us for an intimate and inspiring evening of conversation at REJECTS, where we’ll explore how rejection can be reimagined not as failure, but as fuel for creativity, confidence and growth.
We’re thrilled to welcome an incredible panel of creative professionals who will be sharing their stories, insights and advice. While their backgrounds differ, they are united by a shared belief that art is for everyone and that rejection can be a powerful part of the creative process.
Meet the panelists:
Shona Bland is the founder of Art Friend, an inclusive online and pop-up gallery championing emerging and mid-career artists. With over 10 years of experience across the creative industries — spanning fashion, sign writing, design and fine art — Shona has spent the past five years curating and hosting thought-provoking, approachable exhibitions and events under the Art Friend banner. Her mission is to make the art world more accessible by bringing people together through creativity in unexpected, welcoming spaces. Art Friend has exhibited at major events like the Affordable Art Fair Battersea and is known for its alternative shows such as REJECTS and Housewarming.
Phoebe Minson works in External Affairs and Communications at SHiFT, a youth justice-focused systems change organisation, where she brings together her background in the arts with a deep commitment to social justice. She holds a BA in Fine Art (Painting) from Central Saint Martins and has spent the past nine years moving through the art world in roles spanning curation, public programming, and creative direction.
After years of navigating institutional spaces, Phoebe transitioned into creative coaching and communications, driven by a desire to support artists beyond the gallery system. Her work, both personal and professional, is rooted in the belief that creativity is not a luxury, but a necessary tool for connection, communication, and change.
She coaches artists to build expansive, sustainable practices and leads a recurring book club guiding people through The Artist’s Way. She also maintains her own creative practice, which often takes the form of satirical cultural commentary.
Tabish Khan is an art critic, writer, speaker, podcaster, and curator who passionately believes in making art accessible to everyone. He visits and writes about hundreds of exhibitions a year, covering everything from the major blockbusters to the emerging art scene in London and beyond. He writes regularly for Londonist and FAD and has written for Artsy, Elephant, Stir World, and the New York Observer.
He is co-host of the podcast The Good, The Bad and The Arty and has judged many prizes. Tabish is a trustee of the prestigious City & Guilds London Art School and Discerning Eye, which hosts an annual exhibition featuring hundreds of works. He is also an honorary trustee of ArtCan, a non-profit arts organisation supporting artists through profile-raising activities and exhibitions. He is also a critical friend of UP projects that brings contemporary art to public spaces.
Jo McLaughlin is a London-based art historian, curator, and presenter.
She is the creator and host of Jo’s Art History Podcast, which in 2024 was shortlisted for the best Arts & Culture podcast in the Independent Podcast Awards. The show is also a UK top 5 charting podcast in the Apple Visual Arts Chart.
Jo is the Lead Curator at Acrylicize, a global art and design studio based in East London and New York. She works with brilliant artists worldwide to commission and curate private art collections that bring creativity out of the gallery and into the world. Some recent projects include the Old Session House collection in Farringdon (shortlisted for a 2024 Dezeen Award), the Spring Edition of the Wembley Park Public Art Trail, 2023, and recently curated a standout collection for the LinkedIn Experience Centre in Farringdon, London.
Originally from Scotland, she studied Art History at the University of Glasgow and Art Business at Kingston University, London. She holds over a decade of experience working across museums, galleries, archives, and with artists
Jo is passionate about connecting people with art in meaningful ways and lives by the mantra that art is for all.
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