Graduate Show 2019
Thank you to everyone who came to our 2019 Graduate Show, which celebrated the hard work and achievements of our graduating Diploma, Fine Art Foundation and Certificate students.
Our private views, held on 3rd and 11th July, were buzzing with interest about our graduates’ work. Artworks were exhibited across the three floors of our Newington campus building, covering a wide range of media and subjects.
The first private view included a speech from Academy Trustee and Managing Director of Cityscape Digital, Damien Fennell, who spoke about art and industry. Principal Rob Pepper announced the Trustee’s Prize winners: Elaine Hanlon won the Trustee’s Foundation Prize for her installation piece ‘Obstreperous Lady’ which included an impressive printed wall hanging that was commended for being both humorous and thought-provoking. Julia Thompson won the Trustee’s Certificate Prize for her striking oil on board portrait ‘Small World’ (congratulations Elaine and Julia!).
The Diploma private view saw Henry Little, Academy Trustee and Associate Director at the Fine Art Group, providing words of advice for our emerging artists. With all the fantastic work on display, our Trustees had a tough job of selecting the Trustee’s Prize winners: congratulations to Contemporary Portraiture student Chantal AuCoin and Diploma students Charlotte Smith. Chantal’s triptych ‘Creation of Human 2.0’ and ‘Cincinnatus’ questioned the influence of technology on today’s society, while Charlotte’s mixed media installation incorporated text and sculpture. Congratulations also to Idris Woodroffe, whose collection of abstract paintings exploring how our minds perceive experiences, won the Natwest Prize.
We also had an impressive collection of artworks on display at the Print Show, two of which won prizes from our sponsors: Elizabeth Dawson won the Intaglio Printmaker Prize for Outstanding Print with her soft ground etching ‘Courage Calls to Courage Everywhere, Mata Hari’, and Emma Lucia Reyes won the John Purcell Paper Prize for her woodcut ‘Underworld.’
This year’s exhibition included a number of inspiring works, with many sharing some really moving messages. The show marked a significant stage in our graduates’ aspiring careers, which we are very excited to be a part of. Congratulations to all of our graduates for putting on such a great show!
