The fantastical creatures illustrated in the 16th-century encyclopaedia 'Historiae Animalium' have influenced countless writers and scholars through the centuries and form the starting point for The Portico Library’s current exhibition, Beautiful Monsters. The book’s author, Conrad Gessner, included actual and mythological animals side-by-side, including many labelled ‘monsters’, with little distinction between the real and the imaginary. 

Join us on Saturday 30th June from 1pm for a chance to hear from the international exhibitors, Anya Charikov-Mickleburgh, Laura Dekker, Ed Saye & Dina Varpahovsky, who have responded to this and other volumes in the library’s collection discuss their research, processes and the resulting new works. This event is in high demand so please register through the link below to ensure your place and donate what you can, either on the day or when you book. All proceeds support the library's non-profit public programme and our participating artists.