Love art? Cutting-edge creators from DMU in local exhibition

Leicester’s very best avant-garde creators and artists are showcasing their work at New Walk Museum and Art Gallery, in an exhibition supported by De Montfort University Leicester (DMU).

Left to right: Emma Rule, Jonjo Elliott, Catherine Evans, Sarah Cheshire, Phil Hackett, Melissa Beardmore, Jay Clarke

Of the 29 exhibitors, 10 are talented students and alumni from DMU, displaying pieces across different mediums including sculpture, jewellery, installations, paintings and print.

Curated by L.O.V.E (Leicester Open Variant Exhibition) Art and sponsored by Leicester Riverside Festival, Manhattan 34, A&G Picture Framers, #DMUlocal and DMU, the exhibition is on until Friday 23 February.

Artist and curator Phil Hackett, who started L.O.V.E Art four years ago while studying Fine Art at DMU, said: “It’s a fabulous collection of up-and-coming artists around the Leicester area. We also have a number of different sponsors who have awarded fantastic prizes.”

Second-year Design Crafts student Catherine Evans won the #DMUlocal prize for her mixed media piece, Unmade Quilt, which is inspired by cell structures and made up of multiple materials such as wood, linoleum and acrylic. 

She said: “It’s my first-ever exhibition and I was really surprised to be picked, but so grateful. Everything here is amazing, I just feel privileged to be a part of it.”

Winner of the A&G Picture Framers prize is Fine Art alumna Sarah Anne Cheshire, whose watercolour and acrylic piece, Devon Pier, is based on glitch photography.

“I took a photo, glitched it, painted it and then painted it again with lots of different layers of watercolour paints,” she said. 

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Dome Composition II - Jay Clarke

Winner of the DMU Graduate prize Jay Clarke refers to his acrylic and plaster work, Dome Composition II, as a “psychological and sociological piece”.

“It’s a phenomenal experience to have your work in an established environment like this, viewed by many people and appreciated for what it is,” said the second-year Fine Art student. 

Metal-worker, silversmith and jeweller Emma Rule won the L.O.V.E. Art prize for her copper sculpture, This Way and That.

The Design Crafts alumna said: “This was my first foray into the world of sculpture and it’s amazing to be part of my local exhibition in Leicester, showcasing local artists and students from DMU. 

“Come and have a look and why not enter your work next year? If you don’t, you won’t know how well you could do. Just to get your work in a local gallery and museum like New Walk is brilliant.”

This Way and That - Emma Rule

Fine Art alumnus and studio manager at studionAme Jonjo Elliott won the Riverside Festival prize for his collage piece, Art Not War.

He said: “My collage is in a salvaged frame and is based on the work I do in my studio. Riverside came down and selected it as a winner so that was quite a nice bonus.”

Melissa Beardmore’s Floor Plan 02-46 is a piece made of plaster, mahogany and other found materials.

“It’s based on architecture and inspired by internal structures. I quite like the different colours going on and the different contrasts,” said the final-year Fine Art student.

“New Walk Museum and Art Gallery is such a public place – we’re getting so many visitors in this space so it’s really good exposure for me as an artist.”