Art going once, going twice, sold!

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Published

07 May 2024

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An auction of art has raised £7,000 for a show by students from the University of East London’s  Visual Arts Cluster, with charities also set to benefit. Held at the Arts and Visual Arts building at the University’s Docklands campus, it saw works from students, academics, external contributors and alumni all come under the hammer.

Dr Keith Winter, Visual Arts cluster leader, called the event an opportunity for UEL’s artists to come together. He said, 

This year Orkshun was a success. Highlights included a Jeremy Deller selling for £400, Alexis Harding getting close to £300 and architect Isaie Bloch selling custom sculptures for £200 plus. All of this great energy was curated and auctioneered by Julian Alexander, our MC for the night, and we were delighted to raise £7,000 to feed back into the student experience here at the Visual Arts Cluster. Well done to the strong committee of students that ran this amazing event!”

But it was far from the staid image of a traditional auction house, with rapid-fire bidding, a lively atmosphere, and an appropriately vibrant name, Orkshun. The annual event wasn’t just about having fun though, with some serious art up for sale, including one work by Turner Prize winner, Jeremy Deller.  

Amanda Francis, senior lecturer and course leader for BA Fine Art, helped organise the event and highlighted the students’ hard work. She said, “This event highlighted how art can support important causes. I'm incredibly proud of our students for their commitment and the quality of artwork they offered for sale. Their efforts demonstrate how art can make a difference in both professional practice and giving back to the community. Thank you to all the students involved for their remarkable contribution,”

Works started at £50, with bidding both in person and online. The funds raised will be used to support the final year students' degree showcase, the culmination of their three years of study at UEL. Any money left over will be donated to local charities chosen by the students themselves. During this year’s auction, the surplus raised last year was presented to two recipients, with the Local Giving Newham Food Bank and the art charity, Art Matters, both receiving £500.  

Rob Reed, Way Out East gallery director, worked with the students to organise the event and praised their commitment. He said, “The Visual Art Cluster students took on the responsibility, showcasing an exceptional degree of professionalism and dedication in executing one of UEL's most noteworthy events."  

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