City & Guilds Foundation Show 2026
The City & Guilds Foundation Diploma in Art & Design is one of my favourite degree shows to attend. There’s always a wide range of creative practices on display, from artists that are still heavily experimenting and exploring what their practice might be. It might not be the kind of degree show where collectors eagerly open their wallets, but it’s always overflowing with potential.
This year was no different, although it was half the size as the last three years. But there’s no need to worry about shrinkflation. The quality was generally high across the board.
Thematically it seems almost everyone is leaning into figurative. SO. MUCH. FIGURATIVE. From paintings to sculptures to costumes, an abundance of work featured or focused on the body, including two pieces with exposed spinal columns and an angel that’s had their wings ripped off. But aside from those few semi-gruesome scenes I was pleasantly surprised that the overwhelming vibe of the show was whimsy.
Half the size but twice as nice. You’ll find it hard to go to this degree show and not walk out smiling.
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Here are ten artists that caught my attention.
1 - Freya Nates (@freyanates) — The most fun anyone’s had with crocodiles since 1973, when Elton John sang about them rockin’.
2 - Klaud Hamman (@cloudyinart) — Even though none of the drawings were camping themed, the illuminated tent was a great way to display them.
3 - Phoebe Abbott (@phoebzgotabbottbot) — Most museums put a small string or line of tape on the floor to keep you safely away from the wall art. I like this approach much better. Patent it, Phoebe!
4 - Ines Clift (@inesclift) — Somebody please tell me that these exquisitely detailed miniature dioramas of insect-people exploring animal skulls are set pieces from an upcoming stop-motion animation movie.
5 - Sophia Howard (shmhoward1@gmail.com) — They’re obviously figurative. No, wait, they’re abstract. Or landscapes? No, figurative. Nope, abstract. Oh geez… how long am I going to stand here and study these?
6 - Leo Shovelton (@leoshov_) — Tender portraits painted on board remind me of early evening autumn shadows descending on kids as they start to yawn after a long day of play.
7 - Emil Sanchez Warren (@emilwarrren) — Is it Jenga? Can I play with them? My inner toddler wants to pretend I’m Godzilla and topple them. Does the artist re-arrange these every day? So many questions…
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8 - Pippa Jallad (@pippajallad) — When anti-patriarchy feminist works can also make you laugh, you’re winning.
9 - Ariel Gems (@ariel.gems) — The video/animation inside didn’t do it for me, but it really didn’t matter what was in there. You had me at the hand-written invitation to interact.
10 - Omri Greenwood (@omri.katan) — I’m generally not a fan of performance art, but this is one I’d want to watch.
Plan your visit
‘Foundation Show 2026’ runs 20-23 May, 2026.
Entry is via the Kennings Way entrance on 100 Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4EF. Access to the show is via two flights of stairs.
Visit cityandguildsartschool.ac.uk and follow @cglartschool on Instagram for more info.
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