Thursday 7th August 2025
Doors 6.30pm for a 7pm start
A night of Charcoal, Robot Monster sex, video nasties and Alpha Females:
New ASP member Dr Trudy Barber connects charcoal and cybersex
Film maker Mike Reed presents a journey to preserve and publish the catalogue of North End international icon of cinema: Micheal J Murphy
Live Art from the enigmatic foundation that is sometimes known as Robot Monster
Art Space member Cat. A talks about her new show ‘Alpha Females’ which runs from 6-21 September 2025

Trudy Barber
After gaining a BA (Hons) in Fine Art at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts, London and PhD and Teaching Accreditation by Portfolio both from the University of Kent at Canterbury, Trudy joined the CCI Faculty at Portsmouth University in November 2006 lecturering on various aspects of Media Studies specialising in emergent media, cyber/digital culture, cybersexualities including robot sex, deviant leisure, media networks, visual culture, art practice and the digital future. Trudy is also interested in notions of creativity and interdisciplinarity, and exploring approaches as to how practice informs theory. Trudy continues to follow traditional Fine Art practice with ongoing paintings, drawings, installations and film making as well as continuing writing articles on research. Previous teaching includes the University of Kent, the Institute of Education University of London and the Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Trudy Barber Arts – http://trudybarberarts.blogspot.co.uk/
Trudy Barber on Instagram –https://www.instagram.com/trudybarber6/?hl=en
Academic Research Profile –https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/trudy-barber
My academic Youtube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2hBiFSMJyaB-CEmjiKInMw/featured
Short documentary –https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWFd086-Knc&t=39s

Mike Reed
Michael J Murphy was a prolific filmmaker working tirelessly out of Thurbern Road in North End for almost 50 years. Of his 31 movies made during that time, he is arguably best known for 1987’s Death Run, which was filmed in part at Pound’s Scrap yard. Mike Reed is also a Portsmouth born filmmaker with 30 years working on independent projects. Post Art Foundation Reed cut his teeth in TV during the heyday of Channel 4’s Big Breakfast and in film with director Guy Ritchie. Currently working in Milton Keynes for a well known broadcaster of adult entertainment Reed first met Murphy in early 2015 to record an interview for a documentary. Murphy’s passing led Reed on a journey to preserve and publish Murphy’s catalogue; with an eventual outcome fitting for an international icon of cinema.
Mike Reed IMDB – www.imdb.com/name/nm1470021/
Michael J. Murphy IMDB – www.imdb.com/name/nm0614543/

Robot Monster
Sometimes known as Robot Monster, this enigmatic foundation draws inspiration from the 1953 cult classic film of the same name and is deeply influenced by the threat of cosmic invasion and parallel worlds. Currently immersed in a stencil and street art phase, Robot Monster has been gifting their works to the aesthetically challenged, offering repros that challenge conventional beauty standards.
Rumors swirl in the local Gentleman’s Club that Robot Monster is somehow in league with the devil, while others claim they are the result of a 1950s experiment that mixed the DNA of artists with a machine-like yeti. The truth? It lies somewhere on the bus route between whispered stories and the elusive Superartist Academy of Excellence. Few know the full story, and even fewer are deemed worthy of the truth – if such a truth even exists. For now, Robot Monster continues to confound, create, and leave us all wondering just what is reality.
www.instagram.com/robotmonster110101

Cat A.
ASP member Cat. A is an interdisciplinary artist based in Portsmouth whose work blends humour, protest, and personal experience. Using text as her primary medium, she creates bold and satirical social commentary across painting, embroidery, found objects, and posters. Her practice tackles everything from capitalism and social hierarchy to the beauty industry and failed relationships – always with a sharp eye and a playful touch. Her work is direct, disarmingly funny, and rooted in the everyday.
Cat. A Alpha Females runs from 6-21 September 2025 (Weds – Sun 12-4pm) in the Gallery at Art Space Portsmouth http://www.artspace.co.uk/
Opening Event | 5 September | 5-9pm
Artist Talk | 7 September | 2-4pm.
The artists scheduled for our next 20×20 evening on October 2nd are: Olana Light, Rachel Johnston & Jeannie Driver.