George Storm Fletcher wins the Head of School Prize
The inaugural Head of School Prize has been awarded to graduating artist George Storm Fletcher for their work The First Rule of Assertiveness.
The Prize was initiated by Head of School, Dr Joanne Crawford, as part of a wider plan to see more artwork by graduate students on the walls of the school building.
Joanne chose George’s work from this year’s BA Fine Art Degree Show Sitting With It. In addition to having their work permanently displayed on the first floor corridor, just outside of the Head of School office, George will also receive a prize of £500.
This is the second win in recent weeks for George, whose piece Force Your Parents to Make Funeral Plans was selected to appear in this year’s prestigious Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition in London.
George Storm Fletcher, The First Rule of Assertiveness, Ely, June 2022. Plywood, acrylic and beeswax lightbox. Image courtesy of George Storm Fletcher.
Dr Joanne Crawford, Head of the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies, said:
“I think it is so important to celebrate the amazing work created by our final year fine art students.
“This year has been particularly strong which made it very difficult to choose just one winner. I want to create a collection of graduate art work which will become part of the very fabric of the building and be an inspiration to all that visit the School.
“George’s work The First Rule of Assertiveness is so beautifully multi-dimensional, not only in relation to the materials and environments deployed, but also in the complex layers of meaning; both personal and cultural. I was incredibly happy when they accepted the prize and I’m sure that many people will engage with and enjoy this work for years to come.”
George Storm Fletcher, The First Rule of Assertiveness, Ely, 2022. Colour photograph.
George Storm Fletcher said:
“I am so pleased that of all my pieces, it is The First Rule of Assertiveness that has won the inaugural Head of School Prize.
“The work is a culmination of my time at the University of Leeds, both physically, materially and conceptually, and I think it exemplifies how I have matured as an artist.
“In terms of construction, the idea of me making something that has been so complimented for its 'beauty' in first year seems unthinkable. So it is a testament to not only my own journey with practical skills, but also the brilliant technical team in the basement — thank you especially to Jubal Green for this piece!
“The image is my sister's house in Ely; it is a stones throw away from my secondary school. The piece is a note on self-worth and hindsight. I have painted onto the dustsheets in the windows: 'the First Rule of Assertiveness/ I am Allowed to change my mind'. It is something my Mum, Amanda, has been saying to me for years — but I think it's only in recent times that I have begun to truly understand the life lesson at play.
“The idea of my lightbox glowing away in the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies for years to come makes me feel incredibly proud.”
Find out more about George’s work.
Feature image
George Storm Fletcher with The First Rule of Assertiveness, Ely, 2022. Plywood, acrylic and beeswax lightbox, 32x44x15cm. Edition of 3. Installed in the Common Room for Sitting With It, June 2022.
