Slade BA/BFA Degree Show 2026
Let’s start with painters. About a dozen students seemed to focus purely on canvas but Uday Banerjee (@uday_banerjee), Hope Florin (@hopeflo_4) and Echo Seireeni (@echoseireeni) clearly stood out from the crowd. Not only are they all incredibly accomplished technically, but each has also developed a very distinct approach both visually and thematically. I’d be shocked if I don’t see these names popping up in gallery shows within the next 12-18 months.
Moving into sculpture and mixed-media, another three artists drew my focus because their works either did something bigger, or better, or with a twist. Femi Themen (@femisaskia) presented large-scale abstract and conceptual sculptures in a setting that, thanks to a terrific jazz soundtrack, made me think I’d been timewarped into a 1960’s NY loft happening. Leo Blackley (@leoification) boldly envisioned his debut PV by creating what was essentially a life-sized diorama of paper cutouts, except made of out acrylic painted on wood. Star Gaze (@stargazeartist) mashed up fabric, textile, embroidery and collage to create larger than life figures all tightly stitched together, alongside smaller, more tender portraits sewn in thread.
There were a lot of whole-room installations that were all about the experience. Artists often filled their rooms with a wide range of objects and visuals but the two that really drew me in, literally, were relatively minimalist. Freya Wild (@freyamorgan0099) hid a mystery box inside a foil-lined curtain enclosure, possibly to keep out the 5G radio waves but not the nosy critics. Orla Tann (@orlatann) built a curving wooden paddock that dictated how you navigated, but had just enough hints to make me crouch down and peer underneath to see what was hidden inside.
At the other end of the spectrum were two rooms that did a superb job of crafting fully immersive experiences that enhanced accomplished bodies of work that would’ve looked just as good in a white wall gallery as they did in the head-to-toe enclosures. These rooms, by Amanda Offor (@amanda_offor) and Edie Forrester (@edie.blue.creatures), were adjoining which created a pretty impactful one-two punch considering the radical difference in their portfolios.
Sometimes, however, it was a single work or sutble little detail that caught my attention. Like these seven things:
The tiny Orbiters that Eva Delaney (@eva.delaney) nailed, seemingly randomly, into a large wall made me get up close to squint at their miniature intricacies.
Ruby Fogg (@rubeefogg) recreated the door between her Nana's living room and kitchen using dessert icing on glass.
The stark and sombre composition of The Hill, a 19x25cm oil on panel painting by Minkyung Sung (@minkyung_sung_mk), was a moment of calm amongst confusing abstraction.
Eshq Hasnath (@eshqhasnath) wrapped a 32 metre sari around their works before it passed through the window and floated about the exterior. I almost climbed outside to see where it led.
The 6-handed, 8-eyed figure slumped in the corner that might have been a stuffed dummy, or might have been Lily Tyler (@relytylil) secretly watching everyone in the room.
Therese Ni (@therese_niii) barely concealed a pair of red shoes beneath a velvet curtain, making me wary that someone was waiting to jump out and scare me.
The giant pile of wool supported by a rather imposing metal sub-structure, by Kirsten Franks (@kirsten_franks_).
Whether the artists focussed on presenting their work within the context of an overall experience or stuck with a more traditional hang, it was a strong year at the Slade BA show. Well over half the rooms held my attention and wouldn’t let me go.
Plan your visit
‘BA/BFA Degree Show’ runs 22-28 May 2026.
Visit the official site and follow @sladeschool on Instagram for more info about the venue.
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