London Grads Now: explore work by UAL’s Class of 2020 at Saatchi Gallery

Until 11 October 2020. Tickets £3.

Graduates from 4 of UAL’s 6 Colleges: Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins (CSM), Chelsea College of Arts and Wimbledon College of Arts are among 150 graduating artists to showcase their work as part of ‘London Grads Now’ – Saatchi Gallery’s reopening exhibition in collaboration with students and lecturers from London’s leading fine art schools.

The show comes following the unprecedented cancellation of physical graduation shows in 2020 due to COVID-19. Saatchi Gallery with the support of Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery gave the city’s graduates the opportunity to run an exhibition, showcasing their works safely, within international-quality gallery spaces.

UAL staff and students play a leading role, with ‘London Grads Now’ curated by Juan Bolivar, BA Fine Art Painting lecturer at Camberwell College of Arts, UAL and Mazzy-Mae Green and Greta Voeller, students on MA Culture, Criticism and Curation at CSM; alongside Mandy Franca (Royal College of Art), Victoria Cantons (UCL: Slade School of Art) and Januario Jano (Goldsmiths, University of London). Abbie Lilley and Lili Phillips, graduating from BA Graphic Communication Design at CSM, designed the show’s visual identity.

This exhibition of London-wide MA graduates is an incredible opportunity to celebrate the work of a new generation of artists and recognise the resilience of the human spirit. Selecting from a rich variety and diversity of MA graduates practices that have been nurtured during their time at CCW (Camberwell, Chelsea and Wimbledon), one can feel reassured that in this glimpse of voices we have a future. This is a London art scene that is alive and kicking.

Juan Bolivar, BA Fine Art Painting lecturer, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL

Much of the work has this melancholic but also hopeful feeling..it made us think of nostalgia redefined as not longing for the past but a hopeful feeling about continuity… It’s important for us to challenge dominants perspectives and stagnant meaning, for us to present a concept – but also works – that are breaking down boundaries.

Mazzy Mae Green, CSM MA Culture and Curation graduate, and co-curator

Since 1985, Saatchi Gallery has presented contemporary art exhibitions showcasing the work of emerging artists. Saatchi Gallery transitioned to a charitable organisation in 2019 and relies upon private donations and public support. It has a strong commitment to expanding and improving the knowledge and passion for the arts, particularly contemporary art.

'London Grads Now' is showing until 11 October 2020. Find out more and book tickets on the Saatchi Gallery website - and check out more work by 2020 graduating students from across UAL's 6 Colleges on the UAL Graduate Showcase.