Five Fine Art students and graduates from De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) have been selected to show their work at a prestigious London exhibition - more than any other higher education institution in the UK.
A piece by Jessica Lowe
Hundreds of students and graduates from universities and art colleges around Britain submitted work for the Graduate Art Show, which is taking place in the Zari and Wolff galleries, in London’s Fitzrovia, this week.
Just fifty artworks were selected and five of the artists – Megan Cattlin Jones, Michelle Pang, Louisa Josza, Daniel Hayton and Jessica Lowe – have recently graduated from, or are continuing their studies at, DMU.
The team behind the Graduate Art Show has a history of nurturing and promoting new young artists, and brings extensive links to collectors, buyers and investors keen to find the best young talent in the UK.
Michelle's work is all about the eyes
Michelle Pang, who graduated in Fine Art at DMU this summer, had an oil on canvas portrait selected for the exhibition.
Michelle, from Gloucester, said: “I am so happy to have been chosen and it is an exciting opportunity for me. To be honest, I didn’t really expect it.
“I went along to the gallery and lot of people were interested in my work.
A collection of work by Megan Caitlin Jones
“I paint realistic portraits as well as more figurative and abstract portraits. The realistic portraits are based around my belief that you can read far more about a person through their eyes. I believe they are the most expressive part of the face and tell you more about how somebody is truly feeling.
“The subjects show few expressions and I want people to focus on the eyes.
“For example, when someone smiles really broadly, sometimes the eyes are not showing the same. The eyes are the first thing I paint in a portrait. I also include flowers as a symbol of what the subject is experiencing.”
Three of the masks created by Daniel Hayton
Daniel Hayton, from Market Harborough, created a series of brightly coloured masks which are based on animals and nature and influenced by Pokemon characters.
Daniel, who graduated from DMU this year and is continuing with a Master’s in Fine Art, has autism and so his mum Marion spoke on his behalf.
She said: “Daniel is a little taken aback as he did not really understand the extent of this exhibition. He has been overwhelmed and overjoyed to be selected.
“Daniel does not show his emotions very well but his love of colour, nature and animals - and being happy - is what helps create the art. It is something he needs and loves.”
One of three pieces by Louisa Josza
The Graduate Art Show is open now in the Zari Gallery in Newman Street, London, and the Woolff Gallery in Charlotte Street, London, and the exhibition runs until Wednesday 26 October.
For more information go to the Woolff Gallery and the Zari Gallery
Posted on Tuesday 18 October 2022