Photographic artist Sam Ivin has created 23 portraits of people from the Punjabi community in Stoke-on-Trent.

Each person featured has shared their story as part of Punjab to the Potteries, a joint project from Appetite and the New Vic to commission two new short plays inspired by the journeys of local people whose families began their story in the Punjab region before settling in The Potteries. The plays were shared at a celebration event at the New Vic Theatre during summer 2023. 

During the process of taking the portraits, Sam took a keen interest in the sitter’s individual stories and used his conversations with them as the basis for the decorations that he hand painted onto each print. Tailored to each individual, they include colourful patterns and symbols inspired by Sikh images and Punjabi fashion.

You may recognise Sam’s work from the Settling photography project. That exhibition, delivered in partnership with GRAIN Projects, documented the stories of those who have migrated from around the world to establish lives in the Stoke-on-Trent area. It went on to have subsequent showings at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, and here at Keele University.

You can see the Punjab to the Potteries in Chapters Cafe at Keele University:
Monday - Friday: 7:30am - 6pm
Saturday & Sunday: 9:30am - 4pm

Parking is free on campus after 5pm every day during the week and all day on weekends. If you wish to visit on a week day during the day there is a small pay and display car park on Union Square but please note this does become very busy. 

Access Chapters Cafe is fully accessible. There are a number of disabled parking bays in close proximity on Union Square car park. There is ramped and flat access from the car park to Chapters Cafe. Chapters Cafe is a public cafe so it can become busy with customers during a weekday if you prefer a quieter time to visit we suggest after 5pm on a weekday or coming along on the weekend. 

     

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