It is with great sadness that we share the news of the death of John Varah. John was a key founder of Phoenix, and until very recently had a studio here with us. His presence, dynamism and commitment to the organisation shine through the archive and the spirit of the building. Our longevity is a testament to the hard work John and others put into the creation of the charity and the building as a home for artists and ideas.

For 24 years, John was the artistic director of Same Sky, known across the world for the celebrated community events held in Brighton and elsewhere, including Burning the Clocks and the Children’s Parade for Brighton Festival. He stepped down from Same Sky in 2025, saying it had been “a great privilege to work with communities and individuals to co-create projects that resonate with their lives, dreams, and creativity”.

Our next exhibition, Beyond The Studio: a celebration of the artists and makers at Phoenix. will be dedicated to John. He will be greatly missed.

Photo copyright Phoenix Art Space