Wolverhampton graduate named as one of the winners for New Arts West Midlands competition

A Fine Art graduate from The University of Wolverhampton has been named as one of The New Art West Midlands competition winners.

Kathleen Fabre, a freelance artist based in Stafford and a Fine Art Graduate of the University was one of five winners to be awarded the top prize of £1000 cash for her work submitted to New Art West Midlands this year.

Kathleen’s exhibition was launched on Friday, 13 February and will be on display until Sunday, 17 May at The Barber Institute of Fine Arts in Birmingham.

Her work is an imaginative and captivating installation of sculpture inspired by, and created from, inflatable water aids and steel forged in the University workshops.

When asked about her exhibition and the experience, Kathleen said:

"The artworks I have on display at the Barber Institute are from a series of works I presented at the Fine Art Degree Show in 2013. 

'What The Water Gave Me', is a precarious series of sculptural interventions. I work instinctively utilising the power of the subconscious to visualise the final piece.     

I was delighted to have been one of the winners - Being a part of New Art West Midlands 2015 has been fantastic, the experience has been amazing and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with everyone involved. Since winning I’ve already been put forward for an artist residency scholarship in Germany, needless to say, it's all very exciting!"

New Art West Midlands 2015 selected the work of thirty Undergraduate and Postgraduate artists from the hundreds working in the region and completing their studies in the past year.

When asked about what this achievement represents for University Graduates, Fine Art Course Leader; Maggie Ayliffe said:

“This is a fantastic achievement for Kathleen and really demonstrates that our graduates are easily competing with the best and most exciting Fine Art graduates from across the region.

Kathleen achieved a first class honors in 2013 having studied part time at Wolverhampton for six years. We were delighted to support Kathleen in making the work for New Art West Midlands through the use of our fully equipped sculpture workshops and hope that she will go on to bigger and better opportunities in the future.”

The final prizes were awarded at a special ceremony on Wednesday, 4 March at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts. Participants of the exhibitions are considered to be among the region’s best emerging artists and graduates of visual arts programmes from all of the regions Universities.

The five exhibition winners were:

Kathleen Fabre           University of Wolverhampton

Andre Hannon            Coventry University

Sevven Kucuk            Birmingham City University

Jade Simpson             Staffordshire University

Emma Starkey           University of Worcester

The exhibition is being hosted by galleries across the West Midlands including:  Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, and the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry. A range of unique, diverse and hugely creative art works are being showcased in the exhibition including:  painting, sculpture, photography, performance, installation and video formats.

Kathleen’s sculpture is currently on show in the Lady Barber Gallery alongside works of historical significance.‌

New Art West Midlands is now in its third year. Having attracted thousands of visitors across the venues last year, selection for the artists this year was tough and the art works were expected to be promising.

Further Details:

For more information pleas‌e contact Iyma Atiq in the Media Relations Office on 01902 32 2448.