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Honorary Awards 2023

Collage of black and white portraits of UAL honoraries
UAL honoraries 2023

The 12 recipients of this year's University of the Arts London honorary awards are world-leading creatives, who have worked with major cultural institutions around the world in the fields of broadcasting, theatre and performance, fashion, film and TV, design, education, activism and human rights.

They will be recognised for their outstanding contributions to the creative industries at UAL Graduation Ceremonies at the Royal Festival Hall from 11 - 13 July 2023.

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The full list of Honoraries for 2023

  • A black and white portrait of a woman with long black hair.
    Portrait of Beatrix Ong | Photograph: Beatrix Ong

    Beatrix Ong

    Beatrix Ong studied fashion in Central Saint Martins, later becoming a critically acclaimed designer and acquiring an MBE on Her Majesty The Queen’s 2011 New Year’s Honours List in recognition of her services to British Fashion.

  • Black and white portrait of Cyndi Rhoades looking straight at the camera
    Portrait of Cyndi Rhoades | Photograph: Jack Eames

    Cyndi Rhoades

    Cyndi Rhoades founded Worn Again to develop a scalable solution for turning textiles waste into circular resources. She evolved the business from upcycling disused materials into new products to a technology company which has developed a pioneering polymer recycling process, with a vision to replace virgin resource use in textiles.

  • Black and white portrait of Florence Adepoju looking back to the camera.
    Portrait of Florence Adepoju | Photograph: Danny Wonders

    Florence Adepoju

    Florence Adepoju, entrepreneur and cosmetic scientist, and former London College of Fashion student founded her pioneering makeup company MDMflow after receiving a start-up loan from UAL Student Enterprise and Employability.

  • Black and white portrait of Gavin Jantjes sitting comfortably in a desk chair
    Portrait of Gavin Jantjes in his studio | Photograph: Angela-Musil

    Gavin Jantjes

    UAL graduate Gavin Jantjes is a renowned artist, activist, educator, curator, historian and artistic director. whose work has become essential material in discussions around apartheid, cultural reciprocity and freedom of expression.

  • Black and white portrait of Dr Gus Casely-Hayford smiling at the camera from a side angle
    Portrait of Dr Gus Casely-Hayford, OBE | Photograph: V&A East © Suki Dhanda

    Gus Casely-Hayford

    Dr Gus Casely-Hayford, OBE, inaugural Director of V&A East, Professor by Practice at SOAS and Central Saint Martins graduate, has worked with major institutions to broadcast, write and lecture widely on culture.

  • Black and white portrait of Hernando Chindoy
    Portrait of Taita Hernando Chindoy with Wuasikamas coffee | Photograph: Alejandro Osses

    Hernando Chindoy Chindoy

    Hernando Chindoy Chindoy - Taita Chindoy - is seen by many in his native country of Colombia as well as worldwide as a guardian of biodiversity, ecosystems and human rights.

  • Black and white side profile portrait of Inua Ellams
    Portrait of Inua Ellams | Photograph: Andy Lo Pὀ

    Inua Ellams

    Inua Ellams is an internationally touring poet, playwright, performer, graphic artist and designer. He lives and works in London, where he facilitates workshops in creative writing and recently completed his first pull poetry collection.

  • Black and white portrait of James Waterhouse looking straight at the camera
    Portrait of James Waterhouse | Photograph: Lee Durant

    James Waterhouse

    Renown for his accessible style and history reporting current and foreign affairs, London College of Communication graduate James Waterhouse is BBC’s Ukraine Correspondent and has been central to the outlet’s award-winning coverage of the conflict.

  • Black and white portrait of Lesley-Ann Noel looking at the camera from the side
    Portrait of Lesley-Ann Noel | Photograph: Laura Ferreira

    Lesley-Ann Noel

    Dr Lesley-Ann Noel’s research interests are centred around those who would traditional be excluded from community-led research, design-based learning and design thinking. She practices primarily in the area of social innovation, education and public health.

  • Black and white portrait of Peter Hoar looking straight at the camera
    Portrait of Peter Hoar | Photograph: Gavin Struthers

    Peter Hoar

    Peter Hoar is a Film and Television Director who has worked on hit shows including It’s a Sin, The Umbrella Academy, Doctor Who, and launched detective drama Shetland for ITV Studios/BBC.

  • Black and white portrait of Saki Mafundikwa
    Saki Mafundikwa | Photograph: Carol Dutra

    Saki Mafundikwa

    Saki Mafundikwa is a graphic designer, filmmaker, design teacher, TED speaker and author of the first book on Afrikan typography. He also founded and directed the Zimbabwe Institute of Vigital Arts.

  • Black and white photograph of Shantell Martin
    Portrait of Shantell Martin | Photograph: Cole Haan

    Shantell Martin

    Shantell Martin is an artist and academic, working across a wide range of disciplines. Her work centres around making connections between fine art, education, design, philosophy, and technology, exploring themes such as intersectionality, identity, and play.