Fairs
Ross Head: Carving a path with the JM Finn Graduate Artist Award
London-based artist and Slade School of Art MA Painting graduate, Ross Head, was the winner of the JM Finn Graduate Artist Award at Affordable Art Fair, Battersea Autumn 2024.
Katie Bone
Tuesday 2 September, 2025
South London painter Ross Head, who completed his MA at the prestigious Slade School of Art, claimed the JM Finn Graduate Artist Award at Affordable Art Fair’s Battersea Autumn edition in 2024. Twelve months on, Ross’s career trajectory has been remarkable – his paintings now form part of UCL’s Public Art Collection, and he’s successfully mounted his debut solo show, among other significant milestones.
Lead Partner JM Finn‘s Graduate Artist Award tackles a critical challenge facing art school graduates: finding accessible studio space in an increasingly expensive market. Ross Head distinguished himself among eleven promising candidates through his bold painterly language and nuanced use of colour, creating works that distill life’s intricacies into compelling visual narratives. Based in his South Bermondsey workspace, we delve into how receiving vital early-career backing has transformed his artistic journey.
“The JM Finn bursary has gone towards costs for my new studio in South Bermondsey, and has also helped cover some essential material and equipment costs, which has made a big difference to the work I’ve been able to produce.”
– Ross Head
2025 has been a big year! What’s been your highlight so far?
It’s hard to pick just one highlight. Having my first painting acquired by a major collection like UCL’s Public Art Collection was a real milestone. It felt like a huge affirmation of the work I’ve been doing. My solo show at Haricot Gallery was also a major highlight. I’ve also had some exciting opportunities come up recently, including working with Soho Revue – a contemporary gallery in Soho – on a new series of etchings, which will feature at Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair. It’s been a busy, fulfilling year.
Can you tell us more about your recent solo show at Haricot Gallery?
Absolutely. The show was called Soft Serve and it featured a series of new works I’ve been developing over the past year. The exhibition explored themes of desire and hunger, and how these emotional and physical states intersect. I wanted the space to invite reflection on both sensuality and appetite, and how they shape our experiences.
A key reference point was Patti Smith’s 1978 song ‘Because the Night’, co-written with Bruce Springsteen. There’s this incredible lyric, “love is a banquet on which we feed,” and that line really stayed with me. It perfectly captured the urgency and depth of emotion I wanted the work to convey. Through Soft Serve, I was inviting viewers to think about bodily sensation, longing, performance, and pleasure, reflecting on how they feed into one another.
How would you say your practice has evolved over the past 12 months?
The last year has been incredibly formative. Since graduating from the Slade, I’ve had the time and support to really deepen my studio practice. I’ve been able to experiment and push the boundaries of my work both conceptually and materially, exploring further the themes that came to the fore during my studies. I think the biggest shift has been a greater confidence in making the work that I want to make and put out into the world.
What do you hope people take away from your work?
I hope people leave feeling curious, more than anything. My compositions are worlds for intimate moments to take place, offering spaces to explore queerness, masculinity, and body image. Paint itself helps shape these potential narratives – colour-filled space, delicate marks and thick textures are all active participants in the stories being created.
If you could give yourself one piece of advice this time last year, what would it be?
Trust your gut. Don’t feel the need to rush into opportunities too quickly. Take your time to reflect on what feels like the right way forward.
How have you used the JM Finn Bursary funding?
The bursary has been a huge help. It’s gone towards costs for my new studio in South Bermondsey, which I now share with my brilliant friend – and amazing painter – Katja Farin. It’s also helped cover some essential material and equipment costs, which has made a big difference to the kind of work I’ve been able to produce.
What has the grant enabled you to achieve over the past year?
It’s given me the stability and space to make work at a fairly large scale, and that comes with certain practical demands. Having a dedicated, well-equipped studio has made it possible to keep growing and challenging myself. I’ve been able to keep producing ambitious new work, which is a real gift early on in your career.
What impact did receiving the bursary at an early stage in your career have?
The impact has been huge. To receive that kind of support and recognition after graduating from the Slade was incredibly validating, and the financial support was very welcome.
What’s on the horizon for you in 2026?
I really want to jump into my next body of work, which will take me through to 2026. I’ll explore pleasure and architecture and how sensory experience shapes emotional connection and pleasure in architecture, particularly in connection to desire and queerness. Over the summer I have been delving into this research and spending time at the National Gallery, Bishopsgate Institute and the British Museum looking at their collections of paintings and social history ephemera. These experiences will shape and inspire the next body of paintings and drawings.
JM Finn take pride in supporting emerging talent like Ross during these formative career years. To find out how they could also help you start your investment journey, visit www.jmfinn.com. For more of Ross’s work, find him @rossmhead or at www.rosshead.com.
The JM Finn Graduate Artist Award makes its return at Affordable Art Fair, Battersea Autumn, 15–19 October. Secure your tickets to view this year’s graduate exhibition: featuring outstanding fine art illustrators, photographers, painters and visual artists graduating from universities nationwide.
