Dear art lovers,
I am delighted to present the 2021 edition of Grad Week, Artfinder’s showcase of the best of emerging talent from US and UK art schools.
This year we were thrilled to have Helen Buckley join the curation team and together we have spent many months scouring art schools in both the US and UK. After much deliberation, we selected 24 exceptional graduates, who are producing exciting, dynamic and critically engaged work.
While the world has slowly begun to open-up again, it’s important not to forget the difficult circumstances universities and artists have been working under. Despite this, what is clear is the passion, resolve and skill of these artists to keep producing outstanding work, as well as their tutors who have supported them and continued to make it possible. This is an opportunity to celebrate all of their hard work.
Introducing the artists:
Michal Adamczewski, Ella Barks, Mimi Ding, Karese Fogoe, Tasia Graham, Miret Habib, Francesca Hales, Gabriella Hall, Long Huang, Daisy Iles, Laura James Van Dyke, Yeon Ju, Orla Kane, Emily Knight, Alexandra Koskinen, Ruby Lord, Lara Norman, Imogen Patel, Maite Pereda, Ronan Porter, Cayetano Sanz de Santamaria, Latifah A Stranack, Beth Swan, Wei Wang.
This year’s themes and subjects addressed by artists have been really wide ranging. It’s no surprise that several of the artists have explored their experiences of lockdown and the pandemic within their work, while other themes include culture and identity, womanhood, feminism, sexuality and celebrations of heritage. Several artists explore their experiences of everyday life, from finding the joy in the overlooked, to remembering love and loss, and the cycle of life. The natural environment is also a source of inspiration, as well as science, philosophy, spirituality and mental health. Finally, several artists take a process driven approach to their work with studies around colour and painting.
Artists were selected from leading US and UK art schools and universities: California College of the Arts, Camberwell College of Art, UAL, Central Saint Martins, UAL, Chelsea College of Art, UAL, De Montfort University, London College of Communication, UAL, Pratt Institute, Royal College of Art, The Glasgow School of Art, The Slade School of Fine Art, UCL, University of Brighton and Wimbledon College of Arts, UAL.
We hope you enjoy the collection and take this opportunity to support some of the best emerging talent out there right now.
Thanks,
Alice Artfinder’s Lead curator
View the artists
Cover image via Ronan Porter
