UEL’s MA Fine Art showcase wows audiences
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Published
17 September 2025
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Bold, thought-provoking and collaborative, the University of East London’s (UEL) MA Fine Art Exhibition opened last week at the university’s Way Out East Gallery as part of this year’s Creative Industries Festival. The show marks the culmination of the students’ journey, uniting ambitious final works that showcase both distinctive artistic voices and the collective spirit of the cohort.
The showcase attracted a wide mix of visitors all eager to experience the ambition and variety of work on display. Installations, sculptures, films and paintings filled the space, with conversations flowing between artists and audiences about inspiration, process and the meaning behind each piece.
The MA Fine Art course at UEL is rooted in studio practice, supported by close supervision from some of Britain’s leading artists. Since its early days - when the Chapman brothers first made waves in the 1980s - the programme has developed a reputation for nurturing originality and critical enquiry. Today, it continues to challenge students to push boundaries while preparing them for professional life in the contemporary art world.
Course leader Alexis Harding praised the collaborative and risk-taking spirit of this year’s group,
This cohort has been remarkably generous, not only in the risks they’ve taken with their own work, but in the way they’ve supported and critiqued each other throughout the year. The quality and ambition of the exhibition reflect that spirit - it’s one of the real highlights of the course.”
Works spanned media from traditional painting and print to digital film and socially engaged practice, reflecting the diversity of approaches within the course. Each project was grounded in rigorous research, with themes ranging from postmodernism and exhibition politics to identity, heritage and community engagement.
Dr Debra Benita Shaw, who has guided the students through the programme, described the group as exceptional:
“You are a really special year. What’s striking is how you’ve listened to each other, taken critiques onboard and grown as a result. To be part of a cohort that feeds off one another, supports one another – and sometimes argues with one another - is what makes extraordinary art possible. I’m incredibly proud of you all.”
Speaking about his experience on the course, MA Fine Art student Sailesh Sharma said,
UEL has such fantastic facilities - from studio spaces to wood workshops and a sculpture studio - which gave me freedom to experiment. My work has changed completely. I’ve explored new materials, canvas and colour, and even learnt to make my own when costs were a barrier. It’s been a completely new experience for me, and seeing the results come together in the exhibition has been hugely rewarding.”
For Monica Mardare, the course has been about discovering freedom in her practice,
I’ve always been drawn to art - from fashion and textiles to photography and painting - and at UEL I’ve been able to bring these together. My work now combines textiles, hand-embellished masks and AI, exploring themes of duality. The tutors encouraged me to try new approaches, even 3D printing, and to let go of control. That has pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me break barriers in my work, with the support of both colleagues and staff.”
The course’s strong professional practice focus ensures students are well prepared for careers as exhibiting artists, curators, and educators. Interim and final exhibitions, residencies, and commissions give them opportunities to engage with the public and the wider art world throughout their studies.
Summing up the launch event, Dr Keith Winter, Associate Professor in Architecture and Visual Art and Visual Arts Cluster Leader at UEL, said, “This is without a doubt our finest MA show yet, a huge undertaking by the international practitioners on the course that takes over the AVA building. They have pushed through a glass ceiling in terms of reaching a deep and meaningful critically engaged community of serious professionals. We wish them all the best.”
Linklaters has sponsored an art prize of £2,500 to purchase work from the show, which will be decided by their more than 2,000 community of lawyers based on images from the exhibition. A shortlist exhibition of the five selected artists will be presented in ‘Between People’, AVA’s newly rebranded gallery space, from 23 September to 10 October. The winner will be announced during a special opening night on Tuesday 30 September at 6pm, which will include speeches and will also form part of UEL’s Open House Festival from 21-23 September.