Beyond the Prize | Celebrating Contemporary Figurative Art
- - 11am to 6pm, 1pm on final day | North, East & West Galleries
Admission £6, Free for Friends of Mall Galleries and under 25s. Concessions available. No booking required.
Beyond the Prize
Guest curated by Tabish Khan
Opening Reception: Tuesday 15 April, 6pm to 9pm, for World Art Day
Preview the exhibition online from 1 April
Beyond the Prize is an exhibition featuring over one hundred artists, each a prize winner, brought together as a celebration of contemporary figurative art.
The show is a return to the spotlight for recent award-winning artists, whose new works showcase figurative art as a thriving, contemporary art form.
The exhibition is presented by the Federation of British Artists, a collective of leading art societies based at Mall Galleries - it is here that artists win significant awards at open exhibitions year round, and where many winners will return with new work for this special show.
Exhibitors are award-winning artists from the annual open exhibitions of the art societies within the Federation of British Artists in 2023 and 2024, plus winners of the gallery’s bursaries, residencies and scholarships over the same period. Also invited is award-winners from the Royal West of England Academy, Royal Scottish Academy, Royal Ulster Academy, and Wales Contemporary, to represent winners "beyond" Mall Galleries across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales.
Beyond the Prize will bring together the ‘best in show’ from several exhibitions focusing on figurative art, so expect the whole wide spectrum of figuration. What to expect exactly is up to the expert eye of guest selector, art critic Tabish Khan (@londonartcritic). Tabish is the visual arts editor for Londonist, a trustee of City & Guilds London Art School, ArtCan, Discerning Eye, and a member of The Critics’ Circle. Known as “the people’s art critic”, Tabish believes passionately in making art accessible to everyone.
Within the show, selected artists will share insights about their work, their process, winning their award, and more. This will include emerging artists, whose award is their first so far, alongside more established artists, whose award is one accolade among many. These insights, shared through a series of artist interviews, will result in a valuable resource by and about artists whose inspiration is the real world.
Join us this Spring to celebrate figurative art now with new work by recent award-winning artists.
Special Events
Art After Hours: Life Drawing Session
Wednesday 16 April, 6pm to 8:30pm
Draw, paint or sculpt alongside fellow artists after hours from a choice of three models
Tickets £10
In-Person Session: “Surviving and Thriving as an Artist”
Thursday 17 April, 6:30pm
With artist-curator, author, and Faculty Expert of the Professional Artist Association, Rosalind Davis
Tickets £10
Virtual Session: Impression | How to Make the Right Impression as an Artist
Tuesday 22 April, 12:00pm (GMT)
With the Founder & Director of Education of the Professional Artist Association, Miguel L. Mayher
Tickets £5
LIVE PODCAST | The Good The Bad And The Arty
Thursday 24 April, 6pm to 8:30pm
In this live podcast episode at Mall Galleries, art critic Tabish Khan and artist and broadcaster Anna Gammans speak with award-winning artist Kelvin Okafor
Tickets £15
Events Partner | Professional Artist Association
The Professional Artist Association is a global platform that provides life-long support for visual artists to prosper. The PAA is a certified “Education and Vocational Training” organisation.
Learn more about their world-class trainings from leading arts professionals, growing online community, and other services.
