The enthusiastic response to Mid Street Lab’s spring show Time Is the Real Currency has set a new benchmark for what a creative space can be: a collaborative and forward-thinking platform, rooted in fairness that both artists and audiences are clearly ready to embrace.
We caught up with one of the artists-in-residence, Rachel Benjamin, as she prepares to unveil her long-anticipated solo exhibition.
What’s it like being part of Mid Street Lab? It’s been amazing. JJ, the founder, is generous with his time and welcoming. He offers artists opportunities based on passion, not prestige. I’ve met some truly inspiring people here.
How do you describe your artistic style? My work is surreal and emotionally driven. This series is incredibly personal. After teaching art for over 20 years, I let my own creativity fade into the background. I felt stuck until I began therapy and started journaling every day. That self-reflection reignited my creative voice, and this body of work is its vivid expression.
Your pieces often include moons and owls, what draws you to these symbols? I’ve named this series Between the Trees, inspired by childhood memories of wandering through forests. Those early moments in the woods, feeling free and untethered, have stayed with me. In that space, time didn’t exist and imagination ruled. I wanted to capture that timeless quality, the wonder of childhood mixed with the quiet tension of growing up.
Catch Between the Trees from 7 June to 5 July at the Lab.
