East London’s creative conscience is back — and it’s louder, brighter, and bolder than ever. BE NICE, the latest fundraising exhibition from The Nice Co., opens 7–11 May 2025 at Noho Studios in Fitzrovia. It’s not just a showcase of dazzling contemporary art, but a hard-hitting cultural response to two of the UK’s most pressing social issues: food poverty and mental health.
Culture with a Cause — and a Seriously Good Line-Up
Following their knockout debut in 2023 (which raised a cool £35,000 for grassroots charities), The Nice Co. returns with a powerful new vision. BE NICE features over 20 of the most exciting names in the London art scene, rallying together for Bow Foodbank and grief support charity The New Normal. And they’re not holding back.
Headlining the exhibition is none other than Chris Levine, the iconic light artist behind those luminous, meditative portraits of Queen Elizabeth II that are now cemented into our national consciousness — and the National Portrait Gallery. Levine’s other muses? Kate Moss, Grace Jones, and now, the thousands of Londoners this fundraiser seeks to support.
Joining him are the likes of Jelly Green (yes, that Jelly Green — the one behind Ed Sheeran’s 2023 album cover and protégé of Maggi Hambling), Anthony Burrill with his V&A-grade graphic punch, and viral sensation Charlotte Rose, who has turned pandemic boredom into an Instagram-following of over 430k with her pop-art-meets-powerhouse style.
There’s also Isaac Andrews, the 21-year-old fashion-world darling already linked with Miu Miu, Converse, and a small army of Vogue editors. Think raw talent meets serious relevance.
And if you’re into immersive vibes and Burning Man backstories, look no further than Lauren Baker, whose luminous work regularly lights up spaces like Tate Modern and the Venice Biennale — while quietly raising over £100k for charity.
More Than Just a Show
Held at Noho Studios, just off Oxford Circus, the exhibition will run for five days with a public opening from Wednesday 7 May, culminating in a private view on the same night from 6–9pm. Visitors can explore a gallery filled with bold, unflinching work by rising and established names alike — including Nick Grindrod, Ant Carver, Liza Giles, Beatrice Hasell-McCosh, and a curated collection by Rhodes Contemporary.
But BE NICE is not just a look-and-leave situation. This is culture in action. It’s a rallying cry for East London and beyond, using beauty to address very real, very urgent problems.
Let’s talk numbers. 7.2 million people in the UK are living with food insecurity. That’s not abstract — it’s daily life. Bow Foodbank, located in Tower Hamlets, the most deprived borough in London, sees some of the most vulnerable people in our city walk through its doors. Their open-door policy (no vouchers or referrals needed) allows them to help those other foodbanks may turn away. They delivered over 600,000 meals last year. They deserve all the help they can get.
On the mental health front, The New Normal provides free and accessible grief support for all — born from one barber chair conversation between two men trying to navigate loss. From that moment grew a support network that’s now helped over 10,000 people process grief through honest, raw connection.
Art That Gives Back, in True Shoreditch Spirit
What makes BE NICE so timely — and so Shoreditch — is its mix of visual flair, real-world impact, and don’t-look-away activism. It’s a reminder that art isn’t just about statement pieces — it can be the statement. Especially in a city where the wealth gap is yawning and many creatives are still grappling with whether they can afford to live and make art at all.
By turning attention (and money) toward Bow Foodbank and The New Normal, The Nice Co. is asking us to reimagine what a gallery show can do — not just for collectors or culture lovers, but for communities under pressure.
From sculptural light works and punchy pop art to graphic design and installation, BE NICE offers an aesthetic playground that doubles as a support system for those who need it most.
So show up. Spend big (or small). Share the story. Be nice — but make it action.
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BE NICE Exhibition
🗓️ 7 – 11 May 2025
📍 Noho Studios, 46 Great Titchfield Street, London, W1W 7PT
🎟️ Free Entry
💥 Proceeds support Bow Foodbank & The New Normal
