Travers Smith LLP is delighted to announce the winners of its 2023/24 CSR Art Awards. Set up in 2015, the firm's CSR Art Programme works with graduate artists from the University of Westminster and the Royal College of Art (RCA).
The Awards are the culmination of a year-long series of events and activities aimed at supporting graduate artists, and an opportunity for the firm to recognise the exceptional talent of this community.
- Zerha Ocal was the overall winner in the University of Westminster graduate category for their painting series, "Untitled", which depicts abstract spaces that scrutinise aspects of human conditions. Runners up were Samuel Fath for his series titled "Nobody Home" and Alexandros Charovas for his series "Liberated Masculinity".
- George Quiney took the top prize in the RCA category for his work titled "You Before Me". Runners up were Weiteng Niu for his work "Happy Together" and Hilary Kennedy for their photograph "Clutching at Straws".
- William Harman was announced as the winner of the popular vote, which was open to everyone who works at Travers Smith, for his painting titled "Day at the Tennis".
All three winning artists have been awarded £2,000 to support them with their transition towards professional practice. Runners up have been awarded cash prizes of £500.
This year's panel of judges included alumni artist Susan Rocklin, Alexa Chow, Assistant Curator at Serpentine Galleries, and Chris Kelly, London Head of Legal at Bloomberg.
Susan Rocklin, alumni artist and one of this year's judges said: "I was delighted to be a judge in the 2023/24 Travers Smith Art Programme, especially as an alumnus myself and knowing what amazing advantages it confers upon artists in the crucial stage between graduating and establishing a professional practice. Given the extremely high quality of the graduates’ work this year, the judges’ discussion was intense. What characterises all of the art we were privileged to view, is its imaginative depth and range. Also evident is a real attention to detail and commitment to the craft of ‘making’, whether painting, print, photography, sculpture or installation. Beautiful! What a wonderful collective body of artwork.”
George Quiney, Royal College of Art winner said: "I was delighted to be chosen as a winner of this year’s CSR Art awards. It feels like a great vote of confidence in my work and will help in the development of my new body of work."
Travers Smith CSR Partner and Art Programme Chair Joesph Wren said: "Congratulations to the winners of this year's CSR Art Programme, and my thanks to all of the artists who kindly let us display their work over the last 12 months. We are deeply committed to the Art Programme and I am already looking forward to 2024/25, when we'll be celebrating ten years of supporting fantastic graduate artists."
You can see the winners piece, and all of the artworks from this year's Programme here.
