Emerging artists featured in top exhibition

Two Wolverhampton graduates considered to be among the region’s best emerging artists will be showcasing their work in a unique exhibition.

A Turning Point West Midlands initiative, New Art West Midlands 2015 will exhibit the work of 30 artists, all of whom have graduated from one of the region’s undergraduate and postgraduate fine art degree courses in the past three years: University of Wolverhampton, Birmingham City University, Coventry University, Staffordshire University and University of Worcester.

Visitors can expect to see painting, sculpture, photography, performance, installation and video works from some of the West Midlands’ most promising artists.

Four galleries - Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, and the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry - are working in partnership to present four exhibitions which together make up New Art West Midlands.

With five universities and four galleries, New Art West Midlands is the largest partnership of its kind in England.

The University of Wolverhampton graduates are sculptor Kathleen Fabre and photographer Alexandra Darby, who will both exhibit at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts.

At the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, new works will be placed in the Lady Barber Gallery alongside those by artists of historical importance, creating interesting juxtapositions. Kathleen Fabre, from the University of Wolverhampton, presents a number of sculptures inspired by, and created from, inflatable water aids. Her work is joined by striking photographic prints by Alexandra Darby, also from the University of Wolverhampton

Wendy Law, Director of Turning Point West Midlands, said: “It is exciting to see how New Art West Midlands has grown over the last three years. There is an interesting and diverse range of talent and work coming out of our art schools and universities today. New Art West Midlands provides an important opportunity at a crucial point in the careers of these artists, enabling them to have their work displayed in highly respected galleries and to be seen and enjoyed by a large public.”

Five of the 30 artists will win cash prizes of £1000, plus a select group will be offered residencies, a project or mentoring opportunities with a network of partners, including Compton Verney, The New Art Gallery Walsall and the National Trust.

The artists taking part in New Art West Midlands have been selected by the internationally respected artists John Newling and Bedwyr Williams, and art historian Amna Malik.

This is the third edition of New Art West Midlands. In 2014 the exhibition was met with warm public appreciation, attracting some 100,000 visitors across four venues.

www.newartwestmidlands.org

New Art West Midlands 2015 

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, 13 February – 17 May 2015

The Barber Institute of Fine Arts,13 February –  17 May 2015

Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, 14 February – 31 May 2015

Wolverhampton Art Gallery, 31 January – 26 April 2015

Opening Times:

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery: Monday-Thursday 10am-5pm,
Friday 10.30am-5pm,
Saturday & Sunday 10am-5pm

The Barber Institute of Fine Art: Monday-Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday & Sunday 11am-5pm

Wolverhampton Art Gallery: Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm

Herbert Art Gallery & Museum: Monday to Saturday, 10am-4pm, Sunday 12pm-4pm