For All At Last Return

In autumn 2025, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art will present a major new group exhibition focusing on marine ecosystems. For All At Last Return explores different ocean habitats, from near-shore and intertidal zones to coral reefs, the open ocean and the deep sea, considering our relationships with these fragile environments and their dependent communities.

Monira Al Qadiri / Michele Allen / Bianca Bondi / Shezad Dawood / Taloi Havini and Michael Toisuta / Joan Jonas / Otobong Nkanga / Katja Novitskova / Kristina Õllek / Leticia Ramos / Emilija Škarnulytė / Rob Smith

Marine waters cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface, supporting a vast amount of life, from microbes to marine megafauna. The ocean is vital for our survival, providing us with oxygen, food, energy and medicines and absorbing excess carbon from the atmosphere. However, human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, plastic and chemical pollution and overfishing are degrading marine habitats and pushing many species to the brink of extinction.

For All At Last Return features the work of British and international artists for whom the health of the ocean is an enduring concern. This immersive exhibition journeys through underwater worlds from the ocean’s surface to the seabed, examining the impact of human activity on marine habitats and aquatic life. Working at the intersection of art and ecology, many of the artists in the exhibition have collaborated with marine biologists and oceanographers to raise awareness of the local, regional and global issues that threaten marine ecosystems, and to foster dialogue across disciplines.