Annie Whiles, Sentinel, detail, Oak wood, gesso and oil paint, glass eyes, beeswax, steel base and wheels, L 110 x W 47 (inc. base) x H 185cm (inc. 12cm wheels and base), 2025. Photograph by Jonathan Basset.
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Annie Whiles
Doorway Guardians
27 September – 22 November 2026
Matt's Gallery, London
Matt's Gallery, London:
PV Sunday 27 September, 2-5pm
Continues 30 September- 22 November 2026
Flatland, Bexhill-on-Sea:
PV Saturday 3 October, 3-7pm
Continues 4 October 2026 - 17 January 2027
KARST, Plymouth:
PV Thursday 15 October, 6-9pm
Continues 16 October - 12 December 2026
Matt’s Gallery, KARST, and Flatland are pleased to announce the final chapter of Doorway Guardians, a year-long touring collaborative project by artist Annie Whiles.
Doorway Guardians is a series of three large woodcarvings by Whiles. They combine the imagery and culture of British seaside destinations with the media and methods of sacred painted medieval carvings, while echoing the artist’s memories of molded-plastic charity collection boxes of the 1960s and ‘70s.
They are designed to sit in the entranceways and thoroughfares of gallery buildings. Their role as divine attendants is to be preoccupied but open, listening and on watch, to be touched. Throughout 2026 they will simultaneously occupy entrance spaces at Matt’s Gallery in London, KARST in Plymouth and Flatland Projects in Bexhill-on-Sea.
Over the course of the year they have been rotated and exchanged, following the galleries’ exhibition schedules and setting up a changing series of encounters for visitors at the partner venues. Eccentric and idiosyncratic, Whiles’ work combines highly accomplished technical skill with cheeky humour. There is often more than meets the eye – hidden elements and surprises are there for those who look.
The works are neither rarified nor precious but designed to travel, gathering patina from being touched by visitors as they encounter different audiences in different spaces. Each stands between 150 and 185cm in height and weighs between 160 and 250kg.
Collaboration between public art organisations across the UK is central to the project, with the Guardians taking on a civic role that encourages a sense of public ownership. A spirit of cooperation is embodied through touring and sharing the work.
Opening on 27 September at Matt's Gallery, London, Whiles' woodcarving will be on show alongside Imogen Stidworthy's forthcoming solo exhibtion (30 September - 22 November 2026).
At Flatland Projects, the presentation coincides with the opening of Slips, a new commission by David Gilbert (on view until 17 January 2027) and at KARST, Plymouth, alongside Relic 4, a new film by Larry Achiampong (16 October - 12 December 2026).
Doorway Guardians are made to travel. If you are interested in hosting them in your gallery entrance or public building please get in touch.
Please note that Annie Whiles’ Doorway Guardians will take place in the Foyer, alongside our exhibitions in the Gallery space.
Doorway Guardians was developed by Whiles with support from an Arts Council England Developing Your Creative Practice grant and Goldsmiths, University of London. The exhibition is a partnership between Matt’s Gallery, London; KARST, Plymouth; and Flatland, Bexhill with support from the Henry Moore Foundation and Arts Council England.
