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The New Exhibition by Dan & Serg
PERSONAE is the first collaborative exhibition by Sussex-based artistic duo Dan & Serg, bringing together a new collection of figurative painting, drawing and photography.
Created over the course of 2026, the collection is rooted in a fascination they have always shared: people. From intimate portraiture and street photography to original paintings and drawings, the works capture the characters they encounter, observe and reimagine.
The Private View will take place from 6-9pm on Thursday 10th September. RSVP below.
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About PERSONAE
PERSONAE takes its name from the Latin plural of persona - the theatrical mask through which an actor's voice was said to per sonare, or “sound through.” Over time, the word came to represent the identities we present to the world.
That idea sits at the heart of the exhibition.
Dan & Serg bring together a cast of individuals, each revealing something of themselves while leaving us to wonder what lies beyond the image: the roles we play, the identities we construct and the different versions of ourselves that emerge depending on who is looking.
Across the exhibition, photography captures a person in a moment, while painting offers the possibility of transformation and interpretation. Together, the two practices explore the space between the person observed and the persona revealed through art.
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Two Artists. Two Perspectives.
Serg's photography is rooted in observation. From intimate portraiture to people encountered on the street, his images capture character, gesture and fleeting moments that might otherwise pass unnoticed.
Dan's figurative paintings and drawings move between observation and imagination. People encountered in life – and sometimes first captured through Serg's lens – become the starting point for works transformed through colour, atmosphere and his own visual language.
Together, the works invite us to look beyond appearance, exploring the many identities we present to the world and the stories that sound through them.
Brighton Through Their Eyes
Brighton runs throughout PERSONAE - not simply as the location of the exhibition, but through the people and characters who make the city what it is.
A new series of black-and-white photographs taken around Brighton Pride captures moments within the crowds: expressions, encounters, celebrations and individuals who caught Serg's eye.
Elsewhere, street photography records Brighton's everyday theatre, finding moments of individuality and character within a city known for allowing people the freedom to be themselves.
Alongside these photographs, Dan's paintings and drawings offer another interpretation of people, personality and identity, creating a portrait of a place as much through its inhabitants as its surroundings.
Featuring Rob Makin
Among the individuals featured in PERSONAE is content creator and Handcuffed star Rob Makin.
A portrait sitting with Serg developed into a series of intimate photographs, including full-length nude studies, before one of the images became the starting point for one of the largest paintings in the exhibition.
Rob will join Dan & Serg at the Private View on 10 September, alongside his Channel 4 Handcuffed partner Charlie Gray, who also features in the exhibition.
Private View | Thursday 10 September, 6–9pm
Exhibition | 10–24 September 2026
Atelier Beside the Sea | Brighton