Looking ahead
Uniform & Identity is an ongoing project, and the portraits completed so far represent just the beginning of a wider exploration of military identity and life beyond service.
The project will be exhibited at the Royal Engineers Museum in late 2027 (dates to be confirmed). This will bring together the portraits and the stories behind them, offering an opportunity to consider the relationship between military service, personal identity and the lives people lead after leaving the Armed Forces.
However, I don’t see this as the end of the project. I want it to continue to grow, introducing new sitters, new perspectives and different experiences of military life. There are many stories still to be told.
Could You Be Part of the Project?
I am interested in hearing from veterans and former service personnel from across the Armed Forces who might like to become involved.
You don’t need to have an extraordinary story, have served in a particular conflict or held a particular rank. Equally, you don’t need to consider yourself particularly interesting or have a story you think deserves to be told.
I am interested in people and the lives they lead today. Their experiences, relationships, interests, challenges and the things that make them who they are. Whether you left the military recently or many years ago, I am interested in exploring what service has meant to you and how it sits alongside the person you are now.
Each portrait begins with a conversation. It is a collaborative process, with the sitter helping to shape the direction of the work through their experiences, personality and perspective.
If you are a veteran or former service person and would be interested in taking part, I would love to hear from you. Equally, if you know someone who might be interested, please feel free to pass this project on.
Galleries, Museums & Exhibition Opportunities
I am also keen to hear from galleries, museums and cultural organisations interested in exhibiting Uniform & Identity.
Although the project is scheduled to be exhibited at the Royal Engineers Museum in late 2027, I see potential for the work to reach wider audiences and to be shown in different settings.
The project offers an opportunity to explore military service through a contemporary portraiture perspective, moving beyond traditional representations of the Armed Forces and considering the individual, their identity and their life beyond service.
I would welcome conversations with galleries, museums, arts organisations and venues interested in hosting the exhibition, developing collaborative opportunities or supporting the project as it continues to grow.
The uniform is only one part of the story. I’d like to explore what comes after it.
If you are interested in becoming a sitter, exhibiting the work or discussing the project further, please get in touch.
Matt Emery
Artist | memeryarts