Exhibitions Featuring ACF
(Where ACF’s products or contributions were included but not as curators or conceptualizers)
“A collection of exhibitions where ACF was invited to participate, whether through styling, product inclusion, or creative collaboration.
While ACF was not responsible for curation or production, our presence and designs contributed to the overall narrative of these exhibits.”
Exhibition
THE MISSING THREAD:
Untold Stories of Black British Fashion
At Somerset House
London [21 September 2023 - 07 January 2024]
The Missing Thread at Somerset House explores the untold stories of Black British fashion, spanning from the 1970s to today. Curated by BOLD (Black Orientated Legacy Development Agency), the exhibition highlights the cultural, political, and artistic forces that have shaped Black style and its lasting influence on British fashion.
Far beyond the runway, the exhibition showcases Black creativity’s impact on music, photography, art, and design, addressing its deep contributions—often uncredited—to Britain’s fashion history. Featuring works by Art Comes First, Monisola Omotoso, Ozwald Boateng, and Joe Casely-Hayford, The Missing Thread reclaims the legacy of Black British designers, celebrating their influence and ongoing impact on global style.
Exhibition
FASHION STATEMENTS:
Shades Of Black
At Amsterdam Museum
Amsterdam [18 April 2019 - 08 September 2019]
The Fashion Statements exhibition at the Amsterdam Museum explored how clothing serves as a reflection of identity, status, and cultural expression. Curated by Marian Duff, the exhibition juxtaposed historical fashion from the 18th and 19th centuries with contemporary designs, creating a powerful dialogue between past and present.
Among the six featured designers, Art Comes First (ACF) presented a striking exploration of black as a statement in fashion. Their installation, showcased in the section "Shades of Black," examined the historical and cultural significance of black attire beyond mourning, highlighting its role in rebellion, sophistication, beauty and identity.
Through carefully curated garments, ACF challenged conventional perceptions of menswear, reinforcing their philosophy of blending tradition with innovation. Alongside Patta, Bas Kosters, Marga Weimans, Ninamounah, and Karim Adduchi, ACF contributed to a thought-provoking exchange on how fashion shapes and redefines narratives across generations.
Exhibition
RETURN OF THE RUDEBOY
Dean Chalkley & Harris Elliott
At Somerset House
London [13
June 2014 - 25 August 2014]
Return of the Rudeboy was a groundbreaking photography exhibition at Somerset House, London, curated by Dean Chalkley and Harris Elliott. The exhibition celebrated the style, attitude, and cultural significance of the modern Rudeboy movement, showcasing over 60 sharply dressed individuals who exemplified this evolving subculture.
Among those featured were musician and filmmaker Don Letts, singer Pauline Black, drummer Gary Powell (The Libertines), stylist Zoe Bedeaux, and designers Sam Lambert and Shaka Maidoh of Art Comes First (ACF). The exhibition blended photography, installations, and live events, capturing the essence of Rudeboy swagger in contemporary urban culture.
ACF played a key role in the exhibition’s 3D sartorial installations, designing signature pieces such as an oversized Buffalo hat and a reworked MA1 flight jacket, including bespoke pieces that reinterpreted the Rudeboy aesthetic through a modern lens. Their creations—displayed on mannequins throughout the exhibit—merged tailoring with subcultural references, challenging conventions and paying homage to the craftsmanship and attitude that defined the movement, reinforcing the exhibition’s message of style as rebellion and cultural identity. Additionally, mannequins and objects like vintage suitcases paid homage to the Jamaican and West Indian migration experience, linking the past with the present.
Originally rooted in 1950s Kingston, Jamaica, the Rudeboy aesthetic evolved into a symbol of resistance, identity, and individuality. The exhibition has since been immortalized in a 128-page hardcover book, featuring unseen images, essays on Rudeboy heritage, and references to the curated spaces of Somerset House.