Two local artists take part in the 2026 'Jersey Markets Residency'
Jersey Markets Residency 2026 artists. Left Connor Daly, right Oliver Le Gresley pictured at the Fish Market.
In January of this year ArtHouse Jersey, in partnership with the Creative Island Partnership and Jersey Markets, appointed two artists, local photographer Connor Daly, and visual and performance artist Oliver Le Gresley, who were each responsible for developing their own artwork projects to be enjoyed by the public across Jersey Markets. This is the second year of this new residency project following an Islandwide call-out at the end of last year.
The opportunity included exclusive use of a large unit in the Beresford Street Fish Market for a period of 12 weeks where the studio opened for three days a week where the public could view the artistic process of the artworks as they took shape.
Connor Daly described his project, titled ‘Islanders’, as a visual mapping of the market traders and their shared history, celebrating a continuing lineage of experience and a deeply human process: the passing of knowledge and skills down through generations, and the continuation of an important local cultural institution. Connor is set up a photo studio in the Fish Market unit where he created portraits of traders across the Markets. This resulted in an ongoing, evolving series of exhibitions along the long wall of the Fish Market.
Oliver Le Gresley, whose family’s farm in St Martin has provided fruit and vegetables to the Markets over three generations and who previously delivered produce to the market on a daily basis, is looking back to the Market’s Victorian beginnings and will be creating a project titled ‘Hanging On’, consisting of subtle design interventions that reference some of the early architectural features of the market, such as its lanterns and blinds, as well as a short film that documents the journey from farm to counter of the produce we see on display each day.
The rotating gallery of portraits by Connor Daly has been on display in the Fish Market since February and ‘Hanging On’ by Oliver Le Gresley will be officially welcomed to the Central Market on Wednesday 15 April at 6.30pm.
Artist Connor Daly said: “I am thrilled that I have been selected as the artist for this year's Jersey Markets Artist Residency. ArtHouse Jersey have continually supported my practice and have shown great belief in my work, which is humbling and encouraging to me. For the duration of the residency, I will be photographing the Market traders in a series of static studio portraits. I will be based in a studio in the fish market, where traders will be photographed. Visitors are welcome to drop in when I am at the studio, where they can see how a photographic project is developed from an initial sketch into a fully fledged series of work.”
Head of Programme for ArtHouse Jersey, James Tyson, said, “We are delighted to be working in partnership once again with Jersey Markets and the Creative Island Partnership for the second iteration of the Jersey Markets Residency. We’re also really looking forward to working with Connor and Oliver as they develop two very different but complementary projects, from a walk-through gallery of portraits celebrating the people who bring the Markets to life, to a thoughtful re-engagement with the building’s layers of history. Together, their work will invite visitors to see the Markets in a new way.”
The Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, Deputy Kirsten Morel, who has responsibility for arts, said, “The latest artist‑in‑residency at the Central Markets brings a dynamic and distinctly town‑centric creative response from two well‑established artists working at the very heart of Jersey’s visitor and retail economies. By embedding artistic practice within this historic and bustling public space, the residency adds energy, curiosity, and a sense of discovery to the everyday experience of the town. Shoppers, visitors, and traders alike are invited to encounter art as part of daily life, reinforcing the Markets as a living, evolving place rather than simply a destination. This approach lends vibrancy to the area, strengthens the connection between culture and commerce, and clearly places art and creativity at the centre of the town experience, supporting both economic vitality and cultural enrichment. We are delighted to support the project once again.”
On behalf of Jersey Markets, Ralph Buchholz said, “We are thrilled to welcome, for the second year running, an inspiring Artist in Residence programme at the Market—this time showcasing two dynamic, highly acclaimed artists. This exciting collaboration brings fresh creative energy into the heart of our community, transforming the Market into a vibrant cultural space where art becomes part of everyday life. Visitors can enjoy a unique opportunity to experience, explore, and be inspired by artistic talent while going about their daily routines.”
