‘An Eye For Life: Photography by John Ferguson’ – 29th June 2024 – 27th April 2025

‘An Eye For Life: Photography by John Ferguson’ is the latest exhibition to be held at the historic Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich, Suffolk. This Tudor building is packed with history and situated within the stunning scenery of Christchurch Park right in the town centre. With free admission and lots to see, Christchurch Mansion is a great day out for visitors to the area.

Celebrating themes of portraiture, identity and home, this new exhibition features photographs by John Ferguson, an internationally established documentary, lifestyle and portrait photographer who lives in Ipswich.

Showcasing portrait projects that John has worked on over the years, the display includes Ipswich’s newly acquired Black Suffolk portraits funded by the Art Fund and The Friends of the Ipswich Museums. The series of 20 photographic portraits creatively explores the concept of home for a diversity of people from the African-Caribbean community who were born here or have made Suffolk their home.

John has worked in 60 countries and covered a diverse range of photo stories from conflict zones and national disasters to promotional campaigns focusing on poverty, refugees and rural loneliness. In 2005, he photographed 50 black British pioneers for the Black Britannia project, which was then collected by the National Portrait Gallery.

The exhibition covers his time working with celebrities, including Oasis, The Spice Girls, The Osbournes, Dolly Parton, Tom Jones, Bowie, and many more. It also looks at John’s favourite personal photo projects, from the Forgotten African American Cowboys to street photography, Ipswich Banger Racers and his work with the Albino and Blind Associations.