Abbot Hall art gallery in Kendal announces Familial Traces, a compelling new exhibition bringing together the work of two rising voices in contemporary portraiture, Joshua Donkor and Lela Harris. The exhibition opened on 11 April and is now on view.
Familial Traces is an exploration of identity, heritage, and the stories that shape who we are. Through painting, both artists invite visitors to reflect on the connections between personal history and wider cultural narratives.
Kendal based artist Lela Harris (b.1979, UK) creates portraits that bring depth, dignity, and humanity to figures often overlooked or marginalised by history. Her practice is rooted in close observation and emotional sensitivity, drawing on historical research, memory, and imagination. Working across a range of materials and techniques, Harris produces layered works that give her subjects a renewed presence and voice.
Her paintings seek to restore visibility to lives that have been forgotten or underrepresented, offering audiences a chance to consider themes of identity, belonging, and whose stories are remembered.
Joshua Donkor (b.1997, UK), is a British-Ghanaian artist, approaches portraiture as a collaborative process. Working closely with his sitters, he weaves together personal histories, family archives, and cultural references to create multi layered paintings that speak across generations. His use of image transfer techniques allows fragments of memory and experience to surface within each work, offering an intimate insight into diasporic identity and heritage.
Together, Harris and Donkor’s work celebrates forgotten histories and personal family narratives, highlighting the links between individuals, communities, and the places they inhabit. The exhibition encourages visitors to reflect on their own histories and connections to heritage, whether growing up with access to ancestry or seeking to reclaim it. Through these portraits, audiences encounter ordinary lives full of hopes, dreams, and challenges, reminding us of the shared humanity that connects us all.
Lela Harris, exhibiting artist says “I’m thrilled to be exhibiting in my adopted hometown of Kendal alongside award-winning figurative artist, Joshua Donkor. Abbot Hall has supported my practice from the very beginning, and having such an inspiring collection on my doorstep makes this moment especially meaningful. It’s an honour to share work that reflects on both personal histories and wider cultural narratives, and I’m delighted to be exhibiting alongside Joshua’s richly layered paintings, which I’ve long admired.”
Joshua Donkor, exhibiting artist says “I’m incredibly excited for this exhibition! I had long admired Lelas’ work, so it has been a joy to work together with her on this. I think we found so much commonality within our practice, yet it also feels like the work comes from very different perspectives and lived experiences. I think this brings a really interesting complexity to the show that will hopefully spark lots of conversation on the themes of identity, belonging and archiving. It is so special to be able to show my work in Kendal and to share the personal themes and stories within the paintings to a completely new audience.”
While deeply personal in origin, the works in Familial Traces resonate far beyond the individual. Together, they create a space where audiences can reflect on their own histories, asking how family, culture, and place shape a sense of self.
This thoughtful and visually striking exhibition presents portraiture as a powerful way to connect with lived experience.
Exhibition details
Familial Traces
11 April – 3 October 2026
Abbot Hall
Entry to Familial Traces is included with gallery admission.
Visitors to Abbot Hall can also experience Bellwethers, an exhibition exploring human fragility, resilience, and survival in South Cumbria. In addition, they can see The Paper Quilt Project, a living, community-created exhibition, alongside selected works from the Lakeland Arts collection displayed in the Portrait Galleries and Art Herbarium.
