John Ledger, Straight A’s

John Ledger’s exhibition, Straight A’s, has opened in Barnsley, bringing a fresh and personal perspective to the town’s growing art scene. Originally from Barnsley, John grew up on the outskirts in the wider Darton area. He says he has always felt a bit on the edge, never fully part of the town yet never fully outside it. That sense of being on the fringes, between rural, urban and industrial landscapes, helped shape him personally and creatively. It also sparked an early interest in maps and in asking himself what it means to belong.

“I always felt pulled towards town,” John says. “I never liked drinking in locals, it felt claustrophobic. Going out, it was straight to the centre of Barnsley. There is a gravitational pull there, no matter how you relate to it.”

John’s work often explores complex social and personal themes. He describes his artistic practice not as a love, but as something compulsive and necessary, a way of finding answers to questions he has always carried with him. Teenage daydreams, anxieties and a need to make sense of his place in the world all became fuel for his creativity. Influences came from music as much as visual art, with albums by Pink Floyd, Joy Division, Radiohead, Kate Bush and others leaving lasting impressions on both his imagination and his approach to making art. The 9 11 terror attacks also left a profound mark, shaping his perception of the world and steering him towards a life in art.

Straight A’s is a deeply personal exhibition, weaving together themes of anxiety, anorexia, alcohol, ageing and creativity. For John, it was about facing the pressures he has placed on himself and showing that it is okay not to have it all figured out. After years of pushing himself through projects and exhibitions, he realised that sometimes the most important thing is to give yourself permission to simply be human.

“The title Straight A’s is about expectations and achievement,” he explains. “For me, art was the first thing I could truly own as an adult. I want to suggest to others that valuing yourself as a human is just as important as any external success.”

The exhibition also reflects John’s connection to Barnsley. Landscapes from the centre, the moors and the surrounding horizon feature in his films, capturing both the beauty and the introspection the environment inspires. He has also collaborated with around fourteen local musicians to create the exhibition’s soundscape, showing the community side of his work and giving visitors a chance to experience Barnsley in a new way.

Sharing something so personal with the public has been a balance. John values his anonymity and the ability to watch the world go by unnoticed, but he hopes that visitors will connect with his work and the experiences it represents.

Looking back, he says he has learned a lot about himself, including the fact that he is no longer young, and that creative work is often a reflection of personal growth as much as skill or technique. For younger creatives in Barnsley, his advice is simple, be prepared for moments when you feel left behind and use that to fuel your journey rather than hold you back.

Exhibiting locally also carries a special resonance for John. His degree was earned just across the road from the gallery and returning now feels like coming full circle. He hopes that people outside the area will see that Barnsley’s artists cannot be boxed into stereotypes. The town’s creatives are as surreal, philosophical and contemporary as anywhere else and Straight A’s is proof of that.

You can catch the exhibition at the The Cooper Gallery until Saturday 11 April. On the final day at 1pm, John will bring the exhibition to a close with a special artist talk and film screening. Visitors are encouraged to experience the exhibition one last time before heading over to Barnsley Civic for the event.

Reflecting on the moment, John describes it as “a milestone for a quarter of a century of making, this will be the very final note played.”