Sappleton's artistic approach heavily relies on the incorporation of found imagery. However, she experienced growing frustration stemming from the underrepresentation of individuals belonging to racial minority groups, particularly women of colour, within the fashion and editorial publications that served as her primary source material. This frustration gave rise to ‘Scan/Exchange’ (2017),  a project that sought to utilize the personal archives of fellow individuals from diverse racial backgrounds.

The aims of the project were twofold: to employ these archival materials in Sappleton's artistic practice and to promote their preservation, thereby ensuring that future generations can access and engage with these images within their respective families.

Through a range of commissions, which have involved working with communities local to the likes of Great Ormond Street Hospital, Sutton House (National Trust) and South London Gallery, the project has been able to engage people from an ever-expanding variety of ages, ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. Along with this, the manner in which such exchanges take place has also evolved, allowing for an iterative methodology to emerge for each new instance.

For further information and images, visit the Commissions page.