20 Years of the Virtual Shoe Museum

20 artists were invited to create a celebratory artwork in a 20x20cm square to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Virtual Shoe Museum.

Virtual Shoes - Real Love, Jo Cope 2024

Photographic image on glass 20 x 20cm

Exhibition curated by Amber Ambrose and Joyce de Gruiter

Artworks in honor of Liza Snook the founder of The Virtual Shoe Museum in 2004

Accessories of Activism

At YKK London Showroom during London Fashion Week 2024

Witness the compelling exhibition that shares the stories of previously homeless individuals supported by Shelter. Featured on the BBC and showcased internationally, this exhibition sheds light on homelessness like never before.

YKK Showroom London window installation 2024

Immerse yourself in the world of seven extraordinary artists and designers who have interpreted the stories of individuals striving for a home. Curated by Jo Cope in collaboration with Shelter, this project explores the concept of having a place to call your own.

*Candle shoe designed by Elisabeth Thorsen X Missie

This exhibition is dedicated to the memory of Dan Charkow, one of the project collaborators who sadly passed in January 2024. He will continue to be remembered for his beautiful spirit and exceptional talents.

Global Footwear Award-Winner

Shoes Have Names project wins the Global Footwear Award for Social Impact.

Elisabeth Thorsen X Missy Photography Dan Lowe

Global Footwear Awards 2023 
Social Impact special projects Winner! 

Shoes Have Names 
A project collaboration between Jo Cope and the Shelter charity to bring together 10 designers x 10 previously homeless individuals. 

Design Team:
Jackie leggett, Ellen Sampson, Liz Ciokajlo, Tabitha Ringwood, Jana Zornik, Caroline Groves, Kobi Levi, Daniel Charkow, Elisabeth Thorsen, Kris Walsh

About: 
Homeless charity Shelter joined forces with artist Jo Cope for a collaboration inspired by the personal experiences of people facing life on the streets.

Ten shoemakers/designers/artists were each paired with a person that Shelter has helped through its frontline services.

This is a collection of handmade shoe artworks inspired by the personal experiences of real people facing homelessness. 
These shoes have become a touring exhibition which will next be on show at YKK London Showroom during Fashion Week in February 2024   

Each shoe represents the individuals name and their positive steps forwards. 

Thank you to @globalfootwearawards judges for recognising the project. 

Photography Nigel Essex 
Special thanks to my Shelter team collaborators Richard Hudson and Hattie Lamb and to Polly Neate CEO for support of the project. 

The Wisdom Is in Your Feet

Exhibition Opening - Jo Cope solo show at Hub Sleaford

Open Call

Open Call for Feet and Shoe Portraits  -to be displayed as part of Jo Copes’ upcoming show at the Hub gallery in Sleaford opening December 9th 2023.

Paint, draw, photograph, sculpt- feet and shoe self-portraits accepted in any media.

To work with the shows aesthetics we are asking for the portraits to be in either red, black and white, grey scale or flesh tones as the predominant base, other smaller highlights or background colours are welcome.

The only other parameters are that it should be created in landscape orientation, we recommend making paintings and drawings at A3 size or larger so that they photograph at high resolution and photographing sculptures on A3 paper backgrounds. If you have scanning facilities for 2D work this is also a great option.

The Portraits will be displayed as part of a sliding gallery on a TV screen.

Be creative with photography, this could be an interesting composition on a simple white background or your feet in an interesting place or situation; stroking a cat, walking in water, abstracted, entwined with other limbs, old and young feet combo -grandparent and grandchild comparisons, what can you come up with?

Jo Cope - Bath Jewels - Photography 2023

When drawing your feet or shoes you might want to try setting up a mirror to capture a side profile, or to see your soles or you could try drawing them from an ariel view looking down or by putting them up on a table.

If you don’t think you can draw but want to have a go, try a simple continuous line drawing or a collage maybe? Or try sculpting your foot in a 3D material, plasticine to broken pot mosaic. All feet, shoes and processes welcome.

Caroline Gurnett - Single line drawing - trainers in red posca pen

How to submit your work

For painting, sculpture and multimedia work please photograph your artwork in good light in landscape Orientation.

Photography please send original images minimum 1 mg minimum-5 mg maximum 300dpi.

Information to include: In your email submission: Name, age (if under 16) portrait title (optional) Town, Country (optional) Instagram account tag name where relevant.

Copyright: By submitting an artwork you give us the rights to use your images for display purposes for the duration of the show and for social media or promotion use for the Hub gallery and artist Jo Cope. If we wish to use your portraits further in the future we will contact you first.

Display: Shoe portraits will be in the learning zone connected to the gallery space and will be used to inspire visitors for the duration of the show.

The team reserve the right to select portraits for display that they believe best represent the show in content and quality.

 If your submission isn’t high enough quality, then we may ask you to photograph it again or send the original.

Submission amount: maximum 3 pieces.

Deadline- we are looking for submissions initially up until 1st November for the opening. There will also be opportunities to submit throughout the duration, so please submit even if you miss the deadline as we will be adding portraits once the show has opened.

Email to Jo Cope at  Info@jocope.com