Grab your scissors, glue sticks, and imagination because Folded Realities is here to shake things up.
Opening Friday, 14 November at 6.30pm at The Mill Gallery, this bold new exhibition from Aire Place Studios and Zineophelia celebrates the playful, political, and endlessly inventive world of zines, comics, and illustration.
Everyone’s welcome, come along, have a drink, and get lost in a paper universe where stories unfold, twist, and fold right before your eyes.
Zines aren’t meant to sit still. They’re made to move, passed hand to hand, folded into pockets, shared between friends. They’re not just publications; they’re a way of communicating, a living conversation. The culture comes first, and zines follow.
Folded Realities captures that spirit: zines frozen in time, yet buzzing with life, a time capsule reporting on where DIY print culture stands today, where it’s come from, and where it’s heading next.
From hand-drawn comics and surreal illustrations to experimental sequences and graphic storytelling, the show celebrates how artists use print to mix the personal, the political, and the absurd.
“Zines are messy, raw, and full of life, that’s what makes them magic,” says Nick at Zineophelia. “Folded Realities brings that DIY energy into the gallery, it’s loud, it’s funny, it’s serious, and it’s completely alive.”
And this isn’t just an exhibition, it’s an invitation to join the fold! Zineophelia is running a series of fun, hands-on events where you can make, learn, and share your own creations:
An Introduction to Zine Making
10 November 2025, 18:00–20:00
Get stuck in with a crash course in zine-making — no experience needed, just ideas and enthusiasm!
A Brief History of Zine: Printing, Self-Expression, and Rebellion
8 December 2025, 18:00–20:00
Explore the wild history of zine culture — from punk protest to personal storytelling — and how it still fuels creativity today.
Exploring Gender and the Body Poetry Workshop
12 January 2026, 18:00–20:00
A creative writing and zine-making session celebrating self-expression, identity, and the power of words.
More info + bookings: https://www.themillgallery.co.uk/whats-on
Folded Realities celebrates the power of DIY publishing, the joy of making, and the beautiful mess of communication through art, print, and imagination.
This exhibition is supported and funded by the People’s Postcode Lottery.
Exhibition Details:
Title: Folded Realities
Dates: 14th November – 12th December 2025
Location: The Mill Gallery, Unit 5 Cardinal House, Swinnow Grange Mills, Leeds, LS13 4EP
Opening Event: Friday 14th November from 6:30pm. All are welcome.
For press inquiries, high-resolution images, or interviews, please e-mail: hello@themillgallery.co.uk.
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