Despite the title, there’s nothing superficial about the SURFACED exhibition – a body of photography from students of the Manchester School of Art. The collection brings together 19 vastly different artists in a culmination of their studies, the fruits of their own development during their education at the college bursting out into the world at The Gallery in Redchurch Street.

The central theme is surface, the surface of a child’s skin, the surface of water, even the surface of the photographs themselves. Scratched, freckled, corroded, folded, obfuscated, using techniques that range from the lo-fi to the hi-tech, or a skilful blend of the two, creating reflections and textures that totally or subtly alter the qualities of the image. Whether it be the traditional beauty of a portrait or an alchemical sculpture print, there’s always more going on beneath the obvious. See what you make of SURFACED between 10th and 14th July.

Jana Liggett-Wright

Sophie Cookson

Lucy Crewdson

Matthew Pitchford

Alice Thompson

Nephertiti Oboshie