Art debut: Joe Fletcher Orr’s Under the Thumb at International 3

In his first solo exhibition, Joe Fletcher Orr will be showcasing a new body of work in the exhibition Under the Thumb. Fletcher Orr’s practice is by no means concerned with sticking to formal conventions. In fact, in a bid to subvert the norm, he goes out of his way to flip convention on its head, leaving his audience confused, baffled, and more importantly humoured. By touching upon the satirical edge of the mundane, he draws out the absurdity of consumerism and interrogates our notions of taste. Born in Liverpool in 1991, he came to Manchester to study BA Hons Fine Art, and since graduating in 2013, Joe has been a Catlin Guide selected artist, shown work across the UK – most recently at Castlefield Gallery – and set up his own ‘Cactus Gallery’ in Liverpool. It is about time that a solo exhibition shone a light on the work of this up and coming contemporary artist of the North West. Alongside this exhibition, in International 3’s new adjacent permanent space, there will be a concurrent solo exhibition by Sean Penlington entitled ‘Hmhm haha’.

Thu 18 Sep (eve only) – Fri 31 Oct, International 3 Gallery, 142 Chapel Street, Salford M3 6AF, Wed – Fri 12pm – 5 pm, Opening Night 6pm – 8pm, FREE, www.facebook.com