The Furry Tears contemporary art project explores the special place animals hold in our lives, and how we remember and honour them when they are no longer with us. It is about the bonds we share, the sadness we can feel when those relationships end, and the ways we make sense of that loss.
The project welcomes stories of loss and remembrance, from much-loved pets to trusted working dogs and valued sporting animals.
Who can take part
We welcome people of all ages from the Vale of Glamorgan and wider South Wales to take part in this contemporary art project by sharing stories of animal companionship, loss and remembrance.
Your story can inspire an artist
All the stories will be treated with care and sensitivity by commissioned artists who will select the stories that most inspire them to make new work for exhibition. If your story sparks an artist’s imagination, you can meet them and explore their creative process. Regardless of whether your individual story is selected as a starting point for the creative exploration each story contributed will enrich the vision for this exhibition.
Touch will be at the heart of the artworks and how visitors experience them. This reflects the physical closeness we share with our animals, while offering visually impaired visitors the opportunity to enjoy contemporary art through touch and sensory experience.
Furry Tears will culminate in an exhibition at Turner House Gallery, Penarth, in summer 2027, combining your stories and the artists’ research with accessible artworks for visitors to explore through touch, sound and scent.
How to share your story
If you would like to contribute an experience of animal love and loss to Furry Tears, you can share your story in either of these ways:
- By email: Send your written story or an audio recording to IBFurryTears@icloud.com.
- In person: Place your written story in the post box at Turner House Gallery.
By sharing your story with us, you give consent for it to be used in the Furry Tears project.
project director Inga Burrows 2026
