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OUR STORY

The Graduate Art Show is an annual platform dedicated to championing emerging artists at the start of their careers.
Launched with the aim of supporting recent graduates from art schools across the UK and beyond, the show offers artists the chance to exhibit in established galleries, connect with curators, collectors, and fellow creatives, and gain meaningful exposure in a professional setting.

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Each year, a selection of early-career artists working across different disciplines — from painting and sculpture to photography, performance, and installation — are invited to present their work in a curated group exhibition. Beyond the exhibition itself, our mission is to foster ongoing relationships with artists, providing continued opportunities for visibility and growth.

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We work closely with our partner galleries to ensure that participation in the Graduate Art Show is more than a one-time event — it's a stepping stone toward a sustainable creative career. Many of our past exhibiting artists have since been invited to join further shows, awarded prestigious prizes, and launched exciting collaborations.

THE FOUNDERS

Professor Anand Saggar

Professor Anand Saggar is a renowned supporter of the arts and a leading figure in Clinical Genetics. After more than 40 years in the NHS as a Consultant and Honorary Senior Lecturer at St George’s Medical School, with over 90 academic publications, he now runs The International Gene Clinic in London’s Harley Street and continues to teach nationally and internationally.

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Alongside his medical career, Anand has long championed the role of art in healthcare. As Chair of the Hospital Arts Committee at St George’s Hospital, he introduced visual art, sculpture, music, and performance projects, building a hospital collection of over 800 works, including those by Royal Academicians. Anand also founded GX Gallery to support young artists and co-founded FloatArt, an initiative showcasing UK graduate artists in major London venues. His commitment to emerging talent is at the heart of The Graduate Art Show, giving new artists a platform to launch their careers.

Victoria Charlton

Victoria Charlton has worked in the production and curation of visual and performing arts for decades, following an early career as a journalist. She has produced tours for some of the world’s most renowned dance and opera companies, including the Bolshoi, Kirov (Mariinsky), Royal Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and the English National Opera, as well as artists like Tony Bennett and Ella Fitzgerald.

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Victoria has also curated major exhibitions under the sponsorship of both Russian and UK governments, including historic collections from the Hermitage Museum and Treasures of the Tsars, and retrospectives such as Lord Snowdon: A Life in Photography, with whom she co-authored two books. She continues to work with artists and galleries in the UK and the US.

The Graduate Art Show was founded with a simple idea: to create real opportunities for artists at the beginning of their journey.
As curators, collectors, and supporters of emerging talent, we wanted to offer a platform that not only celebrates graduate work but also provides tangible next steps — from exhibitions and awards to gallery representation.

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Together with our partner galleries and a growing community of artists and supporters, we are committed to making space for new voices and giving emerging artists the recognition they deserve.

MEET THE REST OF THE TEAM

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Nisserine Ezzahni

    Director of Social Media, Logistics, and Artist Communication

    Nisserine is a creative professional with a decade of experience in major companies and a deep passion for the arts and storytelling. As the Director of Social Media, Logistics, and Artist Communication at the Graduate Art Show, she plays a pivotal role in connecting with emerging artists and collaborating with host galleries to showcase their work. A lover of writing, Nisserine enjoys crafting stories that explore themes of identity and culture. Fluent in English, French and Arabic, she combines her business expertise with her artistic vision, fostering meaningful and inclusive connections within the creative community.

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    Ferdy Carabott

      Design Consultant​

      Ferdy is a graphic designer, curator, collector and photographer. He was a staunch support and contributor to FloatArt and now The Graduate Art Show. Ferdy’s catalogue design and graphic skills bring an invaluable dimension to the Graduate Art exhibitions.

      MEET THE JUDGES

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      Armando Alemdar Ara

      Armando Alemdar Ara gained his diploma in Master of Art History from Kingston University in 2000 and immediately in 2001 co-founded with fellow artist Andre Durand, Neomodernism, a new philosophy of art and Art movement. Armando's visual work reflects influences from his reading of Hermetic and Sufi writings, philosophy and theology. Armando lives and works in London, UK as an artist, educator and curator. His work is represented by Zari Gallery, London, Grahams Fine Art, London and the National Centre of Culture, North Macedonia. His work is shown worldwide. Armando Alemdar continues in his role as the Head of the Art and Design Faculty at Alperton Community School in Wembley. ​ His paintings reveal deeply spiritual aspects of life and existence. Working in the Renaissance tradition of painting with glazes, Armando incorporates transparent layers of paint that both veil and reveal the essence of human form, distilling and abstracting each of his colourful images, and thus depicting a mystical imagery of inner movement. ​ Armando was an advisor on FloatArt throughout its five-year exhibitions.

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      Mark Wynter

      Mark Wynter is the director of the William Art Gallery, located in the beating heart of Soho. Based within Picture Shop, a prominent global post-production facility, he has had 20 years of bringing people together – whether in his teams, or at numerous events he has organised and hosted. Over the years, Mark has been instrumental in launching the careers of over 2000 young people in television, many of whom now hold prominent positions across the UK and USA. He previously hosted the Graduate Art Show at his gallery, showcasing emerging artists and supporting the next generation of creatives.

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      Tim Scrace

      Tim Scrace is an artist, architect, and sculptor. An emerging voice in collaborative and artistic working, Tim’s work explores memory and change, helping people to see space differently. Tim lives and breathes architecture. In 2018 Tim made the leap to setup up his own architectural practice. Scrace Architects www.scracearchitects.co.uk is a growing creative consultancy that works with clients and communities to challenge perspectives, educating, and promoting better environments and a more sustainable way of life. Tim’s most recognised work, THIS TOO WILL PASS www.timscrace.com, was commissioned as part of the 800th Anniversary of the relocation of Salisbury Cathedral. The linearity of the design provides a spiritual link to the past and ongoing pilgrimage. Installed temporarily, passers-by interacted with the work through mark making. Tim believes in the power of creativity. Teaching on the Architectural Technology, Interior Design and Foundation courses at Solent University Tim looks to integrate learning with practice. In his role as founder of the IGNITE collective he looks to promote the work and purpose of cultural and creative businesses and individuals both in the city and across the region.

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      Katya Levental

      Katya Levental is the fourth generation of her family dynasty of artists to emerge as an independent talent in her own right. She received an education at the Surikov Art Institute in Russia from 1984 -1990 where she graduated with honors and received an MFA in painting and theater design. Her diploma was nominated for the Gold Medal of the Academy of Art. While still studying in Moscow Levental worked as Art Director on numerous theatrical and television productions. Upon graduating Katya relocated to the United States. She has since been exhibited and critically acclaimed within Europe, the United Kingdom, The United States, and Russia. Her work can be found in prominent international collections and museums. In addition to her solo projects, Katya has also curated numerous museum exhibitions over the years. Additionally, Katya established a career as a highly successful muralist. Creating murals and frescos for many private residences and commercial spaces around New York, Baltimore, Washington DC, Palm Beach, Russia, France, and Spain. Including the US Mint, IBM, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord and Taylor, and Marshall’s Fields in Chicago. Early in her career, Levental taught Art History at the Hebrew University in Baltimore Maryland she later continued teaching by working with young artists as a private instructor. In 2021 Katya opened The True Bohemian Art School in Maryland USA.

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      Brendan Neiland

      Brendan Neiland is an English artist best known for his paintings of reflections in modern city buildings ​ Neiland is known for his interpretations of city life. His use of light and pictorial structure, using a spray-gun technique developed at the Royal College of Art, has seen Neiland likened to Georges Braque and Johannes Vermeer. His work is widely exhibited in major museums and galleries worldwide and Britain including: The Victoria and Albert Museum, The Tate Gallery London, The Collections of the British Council and the Arts Council of Great Britain. ​ He is represented by the Redfern Gallery and has international shows, including the Galerie Belvedere in Singapore, who represent him in the Far East. ​ In 1998 Neiland was appointed Keeper (Director) of the Royal Academy Schools, and is credited with revitalising what had been a struggling art school.

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      Dina Bulavina

      Dina Bulavina is an independent art coordinator and curator who completed the 'New Artistic Strategies' program at the Moscow Institute of Contemporary Art, and has been involved in a variety of international projects. Dina was exhibition coordinator for the E.K.ArtBureau. She was also a member of the organising team for the Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art - a major cultural event in the world of contemporary art. Dina now lives in the UK. She has a PhD in Cultural studies and is interested in understanding how art projects are capable of shaping and improving urban environments, as well as forging new relationships and connections. Additionally, Dina believes art is an excellent instrument for expressing emotions, adjusting to our constantly-evolving reality, and bringing attention to the challenges and tribulations of modern society.

      MEET THE 2025 GUEST JUDGES

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      Lauren Goldie

      Lauren Goldie is a PhD researcher at Central Saint Martins, exploring themes of space exploration, sustainability, and speculative futures. She has received accolades, including the 2022 Graduate Art Show Prize, the Zsuzsi Roboz Scholarship, and the Broomhill National Sculpture Prize. Lauren’s work has been showcased in solo exhibitions at The Muse Gallery, Bankside Artist Space, and Winchester Gallery, as well as international group exhibitions touring China, Latvia and at London spaces including Three Highgate Gallery, Whitechapel Gallery, and Tate Modern.

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      Oliver Murdock

      Oliver Murdock is a multidisciplinary contemporary artist based in London, known for his abstract works that delve into the complexities of mental health. Born in Halifax in 1995, Murdock’s artistic journey has been shaped by residencies, exhibitions, and collaborative projects. His practice integrates painting, printmaking, and sculpture to explore psychological experiences, often focusing on themes like intrusive thought patterns and the abstraction of language. Including shows at Dean Clough, Zari Gallery, and Vanner Gallery, Murdock has consistently demonstrated a commitment to fostering creative communities. His charity initiatives, such as work with Andy’s Man Club, and his tenure as a Junior Fellow in Critical Studies at Goldsmiths underscore his dedication to mental health advocacy and education.

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