Thirteen people who live or work in Edgbaston are the stars of a new outdoor portrait exhibition called In Common, by award-winning Birmingham photographer Maryam Wahid.

Sitting opposite the entrance to Edgbaston Stadium, the spectacular 70m long photographic gallery celebrates the vibrancy, culture and heritage of the local community.

The sitters were selected following a public call-out organised by the Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), who partnered with PATRIZIA to deliver the project. As well as living or working in Edgbaston, each of the sitters – who range in age from 7 to 67 -  shares a Commonwealth heritage.

Among them is Errol Simms, who left Jamaica - where he forged his love of cricket - aged 13. He now heads Warwickshire CC’s Cricket School. Mica Warner, whose grandparents were part of the ‘Windrush’ generation, works in the international marketing team at Aston University.

Performer Clint Lesch felt he had exhausted his career pathway in his homeland of South Africa. Now he teaches a new generation of performing artists in Birmingham.

The cultural project was commissioned by PATRIZIA, a global real asset investment manager and owner and developer of the Corkfield residential development. The scheme, which fronts Edgbaston Road and Pershore Road, comprises 375 new apartments for rent. Currently under construction, the homes will be available at the end of 2023. 15,000 sq ft of new retail and leisure space is also being built next to Warwickshire County Cricket Club’s new entrance plaza.

Maryam Wahid was born in Birmingham. Her work has won her many accolades and fans, including the Duchess of Cambridge, who Maryam was invited to join as a judge for the National Portrait Gallery’s ‘Hold Still’ photography project, which documented life during lockdown.

As a British Pakistani, she too has a Commonwealth heritage.

In Common is free to view and runs from 27 June – Autumn 2023. Visitors can interact with the exhibition and find out more about each of the sitters by scanning a QR code.

For more information on the In Common exhibition, visit: macbirmingham.co.uk and corkfield.co.uk/incommon.