What’s next for our Recent Graduate Artists
It’s been a few weeks since we wrapped the Autumn edition of Affordable Art Fair, Battersea 2022. One of the Fair’s highlights was the Recent Graduates Exhibition, featuring work from exciting new artistic talent from across the UK. We caught up with our grads post-fair to find out what happened…
Katie Bone
Wednesday 30 November, 2022
Exhibition curator Nephertiti Oboshie Schandorf (centre) with (from left) Erica McQueen, Dami Ayo-Vaughan, Amanda Seibæk, and Ella West. Photo by Guy Bell.
It’s been just over a month since we wrapped our 2022 Autumn Fair in Battersea Park! So we thought it a perfect time to catch up with the amazing rising stars of our Recent Graduates exhibition; A Coalescence of Daydreams, who showcased their work to hundreds of galleries, fellow artists, and thousands of art-loving visitors at the Fair.
Read on to hear more from some of the artists featured in the exhibition, from their personal highlights, to exciting news on what’s next in their careers.
Lucy Hutchings
Lucy Hutchings is an emerging painter who received great recognition at the Fair, including from leading gallery Clifton Fine Art, who now represent her as one of their artists. Well done Lucy!
What was it like to meet the other recent graduate artists exhibiting in A Coalescence of Daydreams?
“Meeting the other graduate artists was, by far, the best part of the week. It was exciting and refreshing talking to them about their art journey and bonding over the surreal experience of exhibiting in Battersea together.”
“In the New Year, I will exhibit my paintings in my first solo show at The Old Red Bus Station, Leeds!”
Lucy Hutchings
Congratulations on gaining gallery representation with one of our regular exhibitors, Clifton Fine Art! How did that come about, and what will it mean for your work?
“I was told that Dom and Tom from Clifton Fine Art were interested in my artwork at the exhibition and wanted to represent me in their gallery. So after speaking with them on the final day of the Fair, we agreed they would take my remaining paintings from the show to put up in their gallery and take future paintings with them to upcoming exhibitions and events. Clifton Fine Art is such a successful gallery, and I’m honoured to be part of it.”
What’s next for you as an artist?
“In the New Year, I will exhibit my paintings in my first solo show at The Old Red Bus Station, Leeds! My plan for the next few months is to move to Manchester and find a studio with the space to continue my painting on a bigger scale, working on commissions and creating a large body of work. I am excited about what’s to come and about opportunities with Clifton Fine Art!”
Follow Lucy on Instagram @lucyhutchings
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Amanda Seibæk
Now let’s hear from Fine Art graduate from The Glasgow School of Art, Amanda Seibæk, who captured the attention of many, including Affordable Art Fair Founder and CEO, Will Ramsay! Since the Fair, Amanda has also been snapped up by Will’s Art Warehouse, who will now represent her as one of their artists!
Can you summarise your experience exhibiting at Affordable Art Fair Battersea in three words?
“Fun, unreal, and grateful. I felt like the luckiest woman on the planet.”
What was your Fair highlight?
“It was a combination of experiences. I was greeted with smiles and hugs, making me feel safe and welcomed. Working with Nephertiti and Hugo, laughing and making jokes, and seeing people’s reactions to my work was breathtaking. I learnt a lot from speaking to artists, visitors and collectors about my work.”
“After Affordable Art Fair I was offered a free studio in Glasgow as part of my graduate program.”
Amanda Seibæk
Your work proved popular with buyers – including our founder and CEO, Will Ramsay! How does that feel to know your artwork will be hung in homes around the country? And what is the impact of that on your practice?
“I feel lucky every time people buy artwork from me! They choose a piece of my work that speaks to them and will spend their lives around it – which feels surreal every time. It was delightful to speak with those who bought my work. I met Will Ramsay at the Fair – he is such a kind and wonderful man. We spoke about art, Scotland, and Glasgow for a long time! Studio work can be a little isolating, so seeing my work resonates with others motivates me to keep working.”
What’s next for you in 2023 and beyond?
“After Affordable Art Fair, I was offered a free studio in SWG3 in Glasgow as a part of the graduate program. And I have been offered a few shows, which I am very excited about! I don’t know if I can ask for more – so I hope to continue with painting and printmaking.”
See Amanda’s work for sale @wills_art_warehouse
Connie Stewart
Next up, Connie is a Scottish artist who combines photography, collage, sculpture and painting, often focusing on using recycled and found objects to consider our current environmental challenges. Lots of visitors walked away with one of her mixed-media postcards at the Fair!
What does Affordable Art Fair mean to you?
“The Fair has been an incredible way to reach new marketing opportunities and discover other up-and-coming artists who have inspired me.”
“The Fair has opened doors for me – I have been introduced to amazing people who I may have never crossed paths with otherwise.”
Connie Stewart
What was it like to show your work in this public setting?
“As someone who has followed Affordable Art Fair for some time, it’s been quite surreal to be a part of the Fair! I had never expected to have an opportunity like this, so I’m immensely grateful and still excited about it to this day!”
Has exhibiting at Affordable Art Fair opened doors for you?
“The Fair has opened doors for me – I have been introduced to amazing people who I may have never crossed paths otherwise. Seeing the support for my work has been overwhelming in the best way and extremely encouraging. As a new graduate, it has given me lots of hope for the future, and I’m excited to see where my practice takes me!”
Follow Connie on Instagram @404_connie
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Dami Ayo-Vaughan
Last but certainly not least, we caught up with Dami Ayo-Vaughan to hear more about his time exhibiting at Affordable Art Fair Battersea.
17,500 visitors came to the Fair and will have seen your work – how does that feel?
“It was amazing! The work I showed was very personal, and so sharing this work with so many people and seeing them resonate with it was uplifting. My degree show wasn’t easy, and so for it to be well received meant a lot. One piece gave me a panic attack when I made it, so when someone wanted to take my words home with them and make them part of their lives, it was just the best feeling. And seeing people part with their hard-earned money because they want to have my work in their house was so special.”
What did you think of the Fair when you visited?
“I went to the Fair 3 out of the 4 days! It was a beautifully curated space, many artworks resonated with me, and I met cool people. Each day was different – bringing various friends along who I’ve known since school, from university, my masters, and from my adult life, was excellent. Meeting artists from different galleries around the UK was a very positive experience.”
“Speaking to Nephertiti and Hugo about my work has been so helpful. I forgot what it felt like to get my work out there in a physical exhibition, which has been such an encouraging experience.”
Dami Ayo-Vaughan
Has exhibiting at the Affordable Art Fair opened doors for you?
“Yes definitely – in the sense that it has given me the confidence to keep putting my work out into the world! Speaking with Nephertiti and Hugo about my work has been so helpful – I forgot what it felt like to get my work out there in a physical exhibition, which has been such an encouraging experience.”
Fair Director, Hugo Barclay, says:
“At Affordable Art Fair we are hugely proud to champion and offer meaningful support to emerging artists – and our Recent Graduates exhibition is such a big part of that. This year eight artists were selected from leading art schools to exhibit their work at our Battersea Autumn Fair. This initiative is about providing artists with practical experience and exposure after graduating. It is so rewarding to see them achieve the recognition and art sales they deserve, and that we can offer this platform to help them build momentum, particularly in these challenging times.”
Recent Graduates who exhibited in A Coalescence of Daydreams at Affordable Art Fair, Battersea Autumn 2022:
Lucy Hutchings
Amanda Seibæk
Connie Stewart
Dami Ayo-Vaughan
Ella West
Prab Naththarampatha
Ziyan Liu
Erica McQueen
Read more about all the artists featured in the Recent Graduates exhibition in Battersea.
A Coalescence of Daydreams was co-curated by Nephertiti Oboshie Schandorf and Fair Director Hugo Barclay.
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