We are Wolverhampton
a portrait of a city.
This is a portrait of Wolverhampton through its people. The goal is to celebrate the city and its people, to recognise what we have in common and understand the differences in people’s perspectives. I hope that in a small way it will encourage more dialogue and understanding.
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The work has been shown in exhibitions in the 01902 space on Queen Square, Wolverhampton and Wolverhampton Central Library. I also spoke about it at the 2025 Wolverhampton Literature Festival.
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I am now working on the next stage which includes using video to tell stories and planning a larger exhibition.
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What does Wolverhampton mean to you? Feel free to get in touch and be part of the project.
Wolverhampton is a friendly city with a character all of its own.
Kanj​
“I came to the UK about 30 years ago. I’ve lived in Wolverhampton for over 20 years, it’s the place where I feel like I grew from an acorn into an oak. I am like a tree with roots in two different places. When I go to Sri Lanka it feels like going home, but then when I return it feels like coming back home.
We all need people around us, we need to find our tribe. I found that in Wolverhampton, I don’t know if I could find it anywhere else. Wolverhampton is the place where people really know who I am.”
Simon
“Wolverhampton, it’s not perfect by any means but I think it’s more perfect than lots of other places I could think of, and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.”
Kupid​​
“I think I’ve spent a lot of time finding ways out of Wolves, and I’ve spent a lot of time out of Wolves. Gig life takes me all over the place, and I love it, but I’m always thinking about how I can bring it home.
It’s a growing community, that’s what I say to people, it’s a growing situation, the music community is growing massively in Wolverhampton, and I think music’s at the centre of everything really.”
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Kuli ​​​
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Deon
Nataliya ​​
"My name is Nataliya, I came to Wolverhampton 20 years ago from the Ukraine.
Wolverhampton is the place where I become an artist. The Art Gallery is one of my favourite places to visit. I proudly call myself an artist from Wolverhampton.
I like my town and I can see there is a slow positive movement to make it a better place for everyone.
I still hope for the best for my town."
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Obaida ​​​
“We are a tight knit community, it’s a place where if you need some help someone will always be there for you, that’s the experience I’ve had.
I was born in Wolverhampton, lived here all my life. So my parents used to own a corner shop opposite the Molineaux, so we had a shop right in the heart of the community. We went to school locally, went to Mosque locally, everyone knew everyone, it was a really tight community."
West Midlands Fire Service Wolverhampton
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Caty
I see a sense of community. It’s really friendly, it’s full of people who help each other no matter where they come from.”
UKIM Madina Masjid &
Islamic Centre
Thank you to the individuals here for being so generous with their time. I felt welcomed and as well as allowing me to take some photographs, we had a really interesting conversation about our respective faiths.
Shown here are: Imam AbuBakar Bashir, Imam Atta Muhammad, Abrar and Khalid.
Iqra ​​​
“Wolverhampton is close to my heart, I grew up here, I would never want to go anywhere else”
Olly
“I can remember Beatties as a very young child. The chap on the door, when I tried to walk through said ‘excuse me, manners please’ and I had to say ‘thank you’ because he’d tipped his hat and opened the door for me.
When I was a bit older I saw some great bands, I had some fantastic evenings watching bands. I mean you couldn’t move in Wolverhampton for live music.”
Kom
“What I love about Wolverhampton people is that everyone wears their heart on their sleeve, we’re not pretentious, we’re real and you can just connect with people straight away, I really love that.”
Julia
"I've been a Wolves supporter all my life and there's no greater feeling than the city coming alive on match day.
I love how multi cultural the city is, and its friendly people, and as a photographer I love capturing its historical buildings.
I'm always delighted to say to people that Wolverhampton is a Proud Fairtrade Community."
St Chad & St Marks
I visited St Chad & St Marks over a couple of Sundays to take some photographs. It has a wonderful sense of warmth and inclusivity and they made me feel very welcome.
The individuals shown here are: Ray, Dila, Chris, Stephen, Sajad and Omid.
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Debbie ​
Wolverhampton seems like a town that is "feeling a little bit sorry for itself".
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Debbie is an artist who developed a passion for washing lines in art during the Covid lockdown, so we really had to include one in the photo! ​​​​
Garry
“Newhampton Arts Centre is possibly now my favourite venue for taking music photographs, they have a good stage, good lighting, great sound, great people.”
Simon ​​​
"Wolverhampton is my birth place and what I call home and as the saying goes 'home is where the heart is'.
Victoria
“It’s an interesting place, and there are places that you can go, and you meet interesting people as well.”
Moya
“It’s a lively city, people are very friendly, and there’s a lot of things going on, but sometimes they’re a bit under the surface, I love it’s diversity.”
Robert
“'Wolverhampton has a heart which is centred around its residents; one of openness, friendliness, and honesty.
The City has given me many opportunities to serve over the years, including in the Fire Service, the Ambulance Service, as a teacher and now as a city councillor.
It is home, with all that only home can truly give.'
