Finalists chosen for Graduate Art Prize

Four University graduates are celebrating after being selected as finalists for The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery's prestigious Friends of the University Art & Music (FUAM) Graduate Art Prize.

FAUM graduate prize 2014

Young artists Ben Eggleton and Chloe Burdett (both from the School of Design) and Júlia Moscardó i Chàfer and Lily Ackroyd-Willoughby (both from the School of Fine Art) were chosen after a panel of judges viewed artwork exhibited in their final year shows.

The finalists are already working with the Gallery to create a group exhibition of their artwork, which will include painting, video and sculpture. The exhibition will open to the public at a preview evening on Thursday 21 August 2014, and will then be on show until 18 October. 

In September, the judges – Aesthetica Magazine Editor, Cherie Federico; Curator and Head of Collections at The Hepworth Wakefield, Frances Guy; and University of Leeds' Director of Facilities Management, Dennis Hopper – will announce their choice of overall winner from the four artists. The 'Best in Show' graduating student artist of the year will receive £250 and a year's subscription to Aesthetica Magazine. Each runner-up will receive £100 to help them in their developing career as artists.

Now in its second year, the FUAM Graduate Art Prize rewards the artistic excellence of four top students from the University by allowing them to showcase their work in an exhibition at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery.

Through this prize and exhibition, the University is seeking to encourage the professional development of its art students, and to showcase student artwork of the highest standard with the public and the media. The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery is delivering the exhibition in conjunction with the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies and the School of Design, who are supporting the costs.

The Prize itself is supported by the Friends of University Art & Music (FUAM). This registered charity was established in 1989 to promote and support art and music at the University. In support of its objectives it sponsors concerts in the University’s public concert programme, provides funds to buy or assist in the purchase of works for the University Art Collection, and arranges a variety of activities and talks for members.

Image above is a work by Júlia Moscardó i Chàfer, 2014. © The Artist. The banner image features work by Ben Eggleton.

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