‘The Northern Art Gala’ showcase of the School’s postgraduate creative talent touring the Tees Valley
A pioneering series of exhibitions showcasing an exciting range of creative talent from The Northern School of Art‘s postgraduate art and design students is taking place across leading Tees Valley galleries and museums.
‘The Northern Art Gala’, featuring displays of artworks and installations, is a five-venue exhibition of work by a total of 65 artists on the theme of ‘Souvenir’ being held in a range of venues across the Tees Valley from January to March 2023.
A stunning range of work from illustrators, fine artists, textile and costume designers, photographers and graphic designers currently studying on the School’s Hartlepool campus-based MA Arts Practice, MA Design Practice and MA Design History will be on show.
The professional artists and designers being featured include award-winning photographer Debbie Todd, whose work ‘The Meaning of Being Different’ was featured on the BBC; LR Marshall, who illustrated the cover for ‘The Nostalgia Project Vol 1: Millennium Gothic’ by Dorian Bridges; Studio Yip; graphic designer Nathan Wilson, whose work was highly commended in the prestigious Creative Conscious Awards 2022; and still-life and food photographer Kim Bainbridge, winner of the 2022 Student Food Photographer of the Year in the acclaimed Pink Lady food photography awards.
The Northern Art Gala 2023 inaugural exhibition programme has the theme of ‘Souvenir’ and focuses on childhood, storytelling and the human experience with artists reflecting on memories and the meanings and stories behind them.
The first exhibition (Souvenir – Part 1) takes place at Preston Park Museum in Stockton-on-Tees, Yarm Road, Eaglescliffe, TS18 3RH from 17 January until 15 March 2023 with an exhibition of illustration works by postgraduate illustration and graphic design professionals.
Lucy Brown from Hartlepool, who is studying on the MA Design Practice course and whose work is on display at Preston Park, said: “People should expect to question what ‘souvenir’ means to them. The work I’m showing titled ‘Patches of Memory’ explores the concept that the memories we make are the souvenirs of our lives and should be celebrated.
“I’m really excited about my work being exhibited at Preston Hall Museum as it’s such a beautiful venue, it feels great that so many people will walk through the space and see my work.”
Emily Woods, from Lincolnshire who is studying on the School’s MA Design Practice added: “This exhibition is jam-packed full of talent and unique styles. I am a content creator and have been managing the exhibition’s social media pages and creating teasers for our five-part exhibition and I can’t wait to showcase the amazing work everyone has created.”
The second exhibition (Souvenir – Part 2) will be held at Pineapple Black arts space in Middlesbrough from 20 January to 10 February 2023. Postgraduate illustration, photography, fine art, graphic design, costume, fine art and textile professionals will be exhibiting alongside some of The Northern School of Art’s alumni and professional artists in a mixed media showcase.
Three subsequent exhibitions will then take place between January and March at Hartlepool Art Gallery, ARC Stockton Arts Centre and Hartlepool Museum.
The Northern School of Art’s Visual Arts Faculty Leader and Senior Lecturer for the MA provision, Olivia Burton, said: “The Northern Art Gala is a professional showcase of the talent and success of our MA provision and postgraduate artists and designers. We are delighted to work in conjunction with many prestigious galleries across the Tees Valley showcasing an interdisciplinary exhibition. We have something very exciting in store, and we invite you to celebrate the talent of our region.”
The Northern Art Gala exhibition ‘Souvenir’ exhibition dates are as follows:
- Preston Park Museum, – 17 January – 15 March 2023
- Pineapple Black – 20 January –10 February 2023
- Hartlepool Art Gallery – 28 January – 25 March 2023
- ARC Stockton Arts Centre, 8th February – 18 March 2023
- Hartlepool Museum – 18 February – 25 March 2023
Artists being featured include:
Georgia Gill, L R Marshall, Kieran Nixon, Nathan Wilson, Melissa Mullaney, Emma Wilkinson, Rebecca Jones, Callum Hayes, Chloe Smith, Harry Fraser, Hannah Collins, Sophie Coleman, James Tappenden, Charly Mupenga, Steph Shaw, Debbie Todd, Molly Prosser, Owen Scott, Jade Robinson, Theo James, Niamh Furlong, Sophie Whitworth, Mia Angioy, Erin Sunderland, Bethany-Jane Boutell, Lauryn Brede, Ellie Jones, Jane Spink, Grace Ede, Nadene Mickelwright, Fi McClurg, Kim Bainbridge, Nichola Stott, Katie Bullas, Milo Winterton, Fink Robson, Jade Agar, Lucy Brown, Caitlin Pitts, Ellie Bartlett, Robin Brady Scott
Further information about The Northern School of Art’s wide range of specialist creative qualifications including A-Levels, diplomas, degrees and postgraduate courses is available at www.northernart.ac.uk
