Join acclaimed sculptor and former designer Nicole Farhi and leading criminal defence solicitor Matt Foot for a powerful discussion on J’Accuse…! Sculptures by Nicole Farhi chaired by writer and journalist Torin Douglas at Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery.
Featuring 25 hand-sculpted ceramic busts, the exhibition portrays individuals from around the world who have suffered miscarriages of justice over the past 125 years—cases that have shaped legal history. Inspired by Émile Zola’s famous 1898 letter exposing the wrongful conviction of Captain Alfred Dreyfus, Farhi’s work invites visitors to reflect on the human cost of injustice.
As a campaigning lawyer and co-director of APPEAL, Foot has dedicated his career to defending protestors and victims of wrongful convictions. His insight into the legal battles behind these cases will offer a compelling perspective on the themes of justice, accountability, and the role of art in social change.
Please be aware that this talk will discuss cases of miscarriages of justice, including wrongful convictions and legal failings which have had huge impacts on people’s lives. Some of the cases referred to the exhibition involve accounts of abuse. Attendees may find the subject matter distressing. If you are affected by any of the issues raised, then you can find links to support and practical advice here.
Date and Time
Thursday 1 May 2025
6.30–7.30 pm
Venue
Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery Ealing Green, London W5 5EQ
Ticket also grants you access to Pitzhanger Manor, all exhibitions, and free Thursday Lates activities on the night.
If you wish to view the house and gallery before the talk, this ticket grants you entry from 5pm onwards.
About Nicole Farhi
A celebrated designer turned full-time sculptor, Nicole Farhi CBE is widely known for her eponymous fashion brand but has dedicated the past two decades to her artistic practice. Having trained under Jean Gibson and Sir Eduardo Paolozzi, she has exhibited at Gainsborough’s House and The Harley Gallery. Farhi, a member of the Royal Society of Sculptors, has often focused on the human form, and J’Accuse…! marks a new focus — one that uses portraiture to depict the victims behind cases that have made legal and political history.
About Matt Foot
Matt Foot is APPEAL’s Co-Director, leading aspects of both the law practice and charity alongside Emma Torr. He is a solicitor. Matt has previously worked as a defence solicitor at the law firm Birnberg Peirce for more than 17 years, building a reputation as one of the country’s top miscarriage of justice lawyers and acting in a number of high-profile criminal appeals, including those of Sam Hallam and Eddie Gilfoyle, as well as specialising in protest cases.
Alongside his legal practice, Matt has established himself as a leading voice in the fight to make the system fairer for those at the sharp end of criminal justice. Most recently, he co-authored Charged: How the Police Try to Suppress Protest – an investigation into violent and authoritarian police tactics. Previously, he co-led the campaign to protect legal aid, co-founding Justice Alliance, and to review the use of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs).
Matt has written extensively in the media, including in the Guardian and the London Review of Books.
About Torin Douglas
Torin Douglas was the BBC’s media correspondent for 24 years and has interviewed numerous BBC director generals, chairmen and Cabinet ministers. He has worked at Campaign, Marketing Week and Creative Review, written media columns for The Times, the Economist and the Independent, and presented LBC Radio’s media show. He was appointed an MBE the 2013 New Year’s Honours list. Torin is now Director of The Chiswick Book Festival.
Celebrate the season with a magical evening of music and cheer as Lumarie and Luke Matthews return to Pitzhanger. Enjoy soul-stirring live performances and a complimentary glass of sparkling wine in one of Ealing’s most beautiful historic settings – a perfect festive night out.
Join us at Pitzhanger for a relaxed evening of creativity and connection with the London Creative Gals Club. In this jewellery-making workshop, you’ll design and create your own necklace, bracelet or anklet, customised with charms to suit your style. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned maker, this is all about having fun, meeting new people and leaving with something beautiful to wear.
Kick off the festive season at Pitzhanger on Thursday 27th November with our first Christmas late of the year. Enjoy late-night access to Howard Hodgkin: In a Public Garden, browse for gifts in our beautifully stocked shop, and soak up the sounds of the West London Youth Choir. You can also take part in a jewellery-making workshop with the London Creative Gals Club, or book tickets for a special Christmas jazz performance by Lumarie and Luke Matthews.
Join us for Thursday Lates at Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery in Ealing, West London—a perfect evening to discover art, architecture, and history in an inspiring, after-hours setting.
Join Shanay Jhaveri, Head of Visual Arts at the Barbican, and artist Hannah Perry for a discussion exploring Howard Hodgkin’s continuing influence on contemporary art and culture.
Please note that the Eating Room in Pitzhanger Manor will be closed all day on Thursday 6 November for a private event. Artworks in the affected space will be temporarily off view, but General Admission continues as usual. All other rooms will be open as usual during our regular opening hours.
Please note that although our Manor House remains open as normal, we are hosting our Wedding Open Day across the Manor space on 25th October 2025. Artworks in the Manor will be available as normal.
Please note that the Upper Drawing Room in Pitzhanger Manor will be closed at 11.30am–5pm on Saturday 18 October for a private event. Artworks in the affected space will be temporarily off view, but General Admission continues as usual. All rooms will be open before and after this time during our regular opening hours.
Please note that the Eating Room in Pitzhanger Manor will be closed at 1–3.30pm on Friday 31 October for a private event. Artworks in the affected space will be temporarily off view, but General Admission continues as usual. All rooms will be open before and after this time during our regular opening hours.
Please note that 13 November, the Gallery will close at 6pm for the Curator’s Talk with Richard Calvocoressi and Nicholas Serota. From 5pm, there may be some set-up activity in the space, though it will remain open and accessible for ticket holders.
If you do not have a ticket for the talk, we recommend planning your visit a little earlier in the day to enjoy the full exhibition.
Please note that the Eating Room in Pitzhanger Manor will be closed at 10am–5pm on Thursday 6 November for a private event. Artworks in the affected space will be temporarily off view, but General Admission continues as usual. All rooms will be open before and after this time during our regular opening hours.
Please note that the Eating Room in Pitzhanger Manor will be closed at 10am–3pm on Sunday 9 November for a private event. Artworks in the affected space will be temporarily off view, but General Admission continues as usual. All rooms will be open before and after this time during our regular opening hours.