Laura Gibbs, a Creative Practice MRes student at the University of Westminster, has been picked to be part of the New Ashgate Gallery’s Rising Stars 2024 exhibition, which is taking place between 16 March and 27 April.
Organised by New Ashgate Gallery Trust in partnership with the University for the Creative Arts and Making Goode, the exhibition has given a platform to some of the UK’s most promising new talent. Held in the New Ashgate Gallery in Fareham, Surrey, it features a wide range of pieces from students, recent graduates or those in the early stages of their careers.
The finalists were selected through an open call competition. While 165 people applied, only 27 creators were chosen to be part of the exhibition. As well as being featured in the current exhibition, they also have the chance to take part in professional development events.
Gibbs used ceramics for her submission. Originally inspired by the pots her father brought home from evening classes, she attended some pottery courses as a hobby until family and work got in the way. In 2019, a chance discovery that a neighbour had a studio and kiln in his garden led Gibbs back to clay and after attending her local college for a year, she embarked on a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Ceramics at Morley College, graduating in June 2022. She is now pursuing a career as a maker, alongside studying for a Creative Practice MRes at the University of Westminster.
About her work she said that the idea that “perfect doesn’t grow on trees” challenges the obsession with perfection by introducing elements of randomness and highlighting imperfections.
Gibbs’ work directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, as by becoming an independent maker she has created a new role that will help grow the economy and reduce unemployment. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Find out about Art, Design and Visual and Culture courses at the University of Westminster.
