Success in FUAM Graduate Art Prize.

Former BA Art and Design student Katie Bennett-Rice has won the 2019 FUAM Graduate Art Prize.

Now in its seventh year, the FUAM Graduate Art Prize, supported by the Friends of University Art & Music (FUAM), rewards the artistic excellence of students completing BA studies in Art and Design and Fine Art at the University of Leeds in 2019. The prize is awarded as part of an exhibition showcasing work by four finalists. The finalists were selected by an expert panel of judges from the Degree shows at the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies and School of Design at the University of Leeds. The winner was announced on Friday 18 October and Katie was awarded the prize as well as winning the People’s Choice Vote due to the popularity of her work across the University

Dr Catriona McAra (Curator, Leeds Arts University), one of the three judges on the expert panel, said: "It was a very strong shortlist of finalists, but Katie's work stood out and was very memorable for all the judges. It is such a politically topical piece in relation to things like the extinction rebellion movement, as well as being very technically ambitious and labour intensive."

Katie was delighted to win the prize said 'It has been brilliant having the opportunity to exhibit in a professional gallery space and especially rewarding to have won! The exhibition really felt like a celebration of the brilliant work made by students here and was a fantastic experience to finish my time studying at the University of Leeds. Looking forward, I am staying in Leeds to focus on creating even bigger and more ambitious work hopefully drawing upon scientific and archival material, and I'm excited to see where the next year takes me."

There's still time to see Katie's winning piece 'Holdfast' alongside finalists Bella Marr, Eloise Burrows and Alex Oliver. Discover the artists of the future at the exhibition, which will be on display until Saturday 16 November. Click here for more information.