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Underground_Elsa LaFollette

London Students Prize

Established in 2020, The London Students Prize is open to all enrolled secondary school students in London, aged 11-18 years old (at the time of entry).

 

Entry is closed.

How To Participate

01

Nomination

Participating students must be nominated by their teacher. Teachers can nominate up to 10 students to enter. Upon entry, students will be asked to enter the name of their nominating teacher.

Click here for T&Cs.

02

Artwork Submission

Nominated students can submit up to three artworks online before the submission deadline. Please follow the entry instructions in the T&Cs.

Our panel of judges will then select 20 student artists for the shortlist.

03

The Prizes

The Judges Prize of £800 is awarded to the student artist with the highest score from the judges. £2,000 is awarded to the school of the Judges Prize winner.

The Public Vote Prize of £400 is awarded to the student artist with the most votes from the public. £1,000 is awarded to the school of the Public Vote Prize Winner.

Shortlist

Uriel Jinadu
“Lati Ni Agbara” (translating to
Public Vote Winner
“Lati Ni Agbara” (translating to “To Have Strength”)
Nancy Thomas
After The 'Promised Land' image
BIDDING AVAILABLE
After The ‘Promised Land’
Katerina Leupolz
An Exploration Into The Relationship Between Rhythm And Art image
BIDDING AVAILABLE
An Exploration Into The Relationship Between Rhythm And Art
Jovian Yan
Blue image
BIDDING AVAILABLE
Blue
Abigail Girma
Day To Day  image
BIDDING AVAILABLE
Day To Day
Miranda Reula Gregorio
El Mar Gris image
BIDDING AVAILABLE
El Mar Gris
Cassidy Gattegno
Embrace image
BIDDING AVAILABLE
Embrace
Esthefani Neves Pitan Ferreira
Functional Dress image
Functional Dress
Hannah Franklin
Hare Bells image
Hare Bells
Konstantinos Louzi
London Architecture  image
BIDDING AVAILABLE
London Architecture
Greta Cawley
Losing Touch image
BIDDING AVAILABLE
Losing Touch
Anna-May Knox
My Mum (Predecessor) image
BIDDING AVAILABLE
My Mum (Predecessor)
Salima Mohammadyan
Sailing To See World Architecture  image
BIDDING AVAILABLE
Sailing To See World Architecture
Adriana Iznaga Kanerva
Reflection image
Reflection
Josie Hallett
Self Portrait Response To Lock image
BIDDING AVAILABLE
Self Portrait Response To Lock
Amelia Simons
The Dancer image
The Dancer
Sophia Shade
Tri-Colour Portrait Of Family image
BIDDING AVAILABLE
Tri-Colour Portrait Of Family
Xi Yang
Vestige  image
Vestige
Andrew Or
Wisdom In Wrinkles image
Judges Prize Winner
Wisdom In Wrinkles
Jeh-Nai Smith-Carey
The Oddities image
The Oddities
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01 / 20

Uriel Jinadu

“Lati Ni Agbara” (translating to

Uriel Jinadu

“Lati Ni Agbara” (translating to “To Have Strength”)
School: Eltham College
Dimension: 100 x 150cm
Medium: Oil on canvas
Age: 18
Country: London

The figure lies back, vulnerable yet strong, proudly displaying objects connecting to his heritage and tribal roots. Uriel chose to explore the connections young people in South East London feel to their ancestry; specifically African heritage and culture, and how this heritage can be a true source of inner strength.

02 / 20

Nancy Thomas

After The 'Promised Land' image

Nancy Thomas

After The ‘Promised Land’
School: West London Free School
Dimension: 29 x 21cm x2
Medium: Mixed media on paper x 2
Age: 16
Country: London

Inspired by Michael Armitage’s ‘Promised Land’ seen at Tate Modern in Capturing the Moment. Examining the predominance of white male dominance in the artworld.

03 / 20

Katerina Leupolz

An Exploration Into The Relationship Between Rhythm And Art image

Katerina Leupolz

An Exploration Into The Relationship Between Rhythm And Art
School: Coombe Girls’ School
Dimension: 28 x 20cm
Medium: Photograph with embroidery thread
Age: 18
Country: London

This multi-medium piece comprises of a photographic image transferred onto cotton fabric. The repetitive embroidery is worked into the composition to enhance the sense of movement and rhythm.

04 / 20

Jovian Yan

Blue image

Jovian Yan

Blue
School: Dulwich College
Dimension: 150 x 100cm
Medium: Oil on canvas
Age: 16
Country: London

The piece depicts a garden garage door caught under a spectrum of light and shadows projected by an oak tree I saw one evening. I was inspired to create the piece as an encapsulation of the moment that I witnessed, the complexity of the nature of light leaving me in awe and the notion of a garden door leading me down a vista of childhood memories. I decided to derive the title of the piece from its dominant shade of colour, a tone I have always read to be a symbolic representation of tranquility and sensitivity, which ultimately aligns with the calming undulation of the shadows of the tree as its branches swayed in the gentle breeze. Despite seeming like a trivial or insignificant instant that one can experience any day, the pacifying and almost dreamy quality of the moment was of great significance to me as it signifies a second of self-reflection – a brief and rare adjourn from the bustling hustle of everyday life, which I deem to be a moment worthy of cherishing.

05 / 20

Abigail Girma

Day To Day  image

Abigail Girma

Day To Day
School: St Charles Catholic Sixth Form College
Dimension: 25 x 70cm
Medium: Photography and photoshop
Age: 17
Country: London

Through this sequence of images, the viewer gains a third-person perspective of the reality towards the path of self-actualisation – There are moments in time where you feel ‘stuck’, frozen in place, unable to comprehend how the people around you are able to move forwards.

06 / 20

Miranda Reula Gregorio

El Mar Gris image

Miranda Reula Gregorio

El Mar Gris
School: Kingsdale Foundation School
Dimension: 41 x 51cm
Medium: Oil on canvas
Age: 17
Country: London

Believe it or not this is the coast of Málaga in Spain, the same one being commercialised as a crystal-clear beach or one not to miss when you go visit. When I arrived, instead of coming to blue waters, a waterscape of greys took over. It was still as beautiful, just unexpected. By painting this sight, I’m hoping to make you realise that the purest beauty is found in those things you don’t expect. The water was freezing.

07 / 20

Cassidy Gattegno

Embrace image

Cassidy Gattegno

Embrace
School: Chestnut Grove Academy
Dimension: 84 x 54cm
Medium: Oil on canvas
Age: 16
Country: London

This work was the result of creating work around the theme of ‘Lock’, from which I created my own prompt, ‘Embrace’. I painted a series of pieces experimenting with this, depicting human figures embracing themselves. I experimented with painting various positions and perspectives to help form ideas. My vision for this final piece was to evoke emotions of peace in loneliness, and a tranquil, dream-like, but vulnerable atmosphere within the painting – hence the softening of colours and avoidance of harsh lines around the subject. My inspiration for this piece came from wanting to portray a feeling of vulnerability that comes from embracing oneself. I used a monochromatic blue colour scheme across many of my pieces leading up to this, and progressed into using multiple colours in one composition, however still keeping in line with the melancholy and calm mood –  reinforced with the use of cool tones in the majority of them. In this painting, I kept to the same idea using a cooler tone of purple in the majority of the background. 

08 / 20

Esthefani Neves Pitan Ferreira

Functional Dress image

Esthefani Neves Pitan Ferreira

Functional Dress
School: Burlington Danes Academy
Dimension: 26 x 140cm
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Age: 16
Country: London

Fashion to me is a non-verbal way of communication that conveys a lot about the person’s personality, background, and style. I learnt that earlier it was exclusively the world of the affluent, celebrities and royalty. However, fashion is now within the reach of the common man, especially the youth. Hence I wanted to explore fashion’s evolution of retro, glamour with contemporary twist.

09 / 20

Hannah Franklin

Hare Bells image

Hannah Franklin

Hare Bells
School: Emanuel School
Dimension: 230 x 139cm
Medium: Oil on canvas
Age: 17
Country: London

A young girl picks hare bells amongst swaying marram grass on a windy day.

10 / 20

Konstantinos Louzi

London Architecture  image

Konstantinos Louzi

London Architecture
School: Burlington Danes Academy
Dimension: 150 x 122cm
Medium: Biro on paper
Age: 17
Country: London

My biro study is of Natwest Bank A1 Aldersgate Street 1873-74; Architect: Charles Jocelyn Parnell.

A decorative architecture juxtaposed just a stone’s throw away from brutalist Barbican buildings. I migrated to London, the architecture of London fascinates me, and leads me to want to study and learn more about its history and aesthetics. I photographed the building from different angles to understand the building better and I chose this angle for my final piece to challenge myself with a two-dimensional biro drawing of perspective because it’s not possible to leave perspective aside, if we bear in mind that perspective is one of the basic factors in creating three dimensions. This also opens the idea ‘Perspective of the subject determines how it is viewed’. I further wanted to study subject perspective in the interrelation to which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed.

11 / 20

Greta Cawley

Losing Touch image

Greta Cawley

Losing Touch
School: Kingsdale Foundation School
Dimension: 102 x 76cm
Medium: Oil on canvas
Age: 18
Country: London

Painting of a person curled up on a sofa, staring dully into the distance. The background is painted in soft colours to create a disconnect from the realistic figure, which was done to isolate the model and put the viewer into the subject’s perspective of emptiness and dissociation from reality. The subject is breaking apart at edges, showing they are slowly fading away and losing their sense of self. This painting also reflects the bore which life around has become for the subject, and how the world around has lost its spark or colour.

12 / 20

Anna-May Knox

My Mum (Predecessor) image

Anna-May Knox

My Mum (Predecessor)
School: West London Free School
Dimension: 35 x 45cm
Medium: Mixed media painting on paper
Age: 16
Country: London

Inspired by ‘Predecessors’ by Njideka Akunyili Crosby seen at Capturing the Moment at Tate Modern this work embodies contemporary London domestic life creating an engaging juxtaposition between the humorous chair and the slightly serious pose of the figure. The abstract painting in the background also brings an art historical dimension to the work.

13 / 20

Salima Mohammadyan

Sailing To See World Architecture  image

Salima Mohammadyan

Sailing To See World Architecture
School: Burlington Danes Academy
Dimension: 120 x 60cm
Medium: MDF and water colour
Age: 16
Country: London

I was born in Afghanistan, and I migrated to London. I travelled around Europe studying the history of architecture and tracing the changes in architecture through various traditions, regions, overarching stylistic trends, and dates. I documented all my findings for my GCSE art thesis.

I wanted capture my document in a form of sculpture representing landscape architecture of all the popular buildings of the world. Sailing is one of my hobbies and I aspire to travel around the world visiting popular destinations indulging in their diversity and culture. This piece is a compostion of my aspiration.

14 / 20

Adriana Iznaga Kanerva

Reflection image

Adriana Iznaga Kanerva

Reflection
School: Kingsdale Foundation School
Dimension: 28 x 35cm
Medium: Oil on paper
Age: 16
Country: London

This piece, is inspired by the obsession with appearances found in today’s society. I decided to use realism to convey how this is something that might be found in our everyday lives. The light glowing over the face represents how people tend to make initial judgements based on looks rather than character, leaving our other qualities in the shadows.

15 / 20

Josie Hallett

Self Portrait Response To Lock image

Josie Hallett

Self Portrait Response To Lock
School: Chestnut Grove Academy
Dimension: 45 x 45 x 5cm
Medium: Oil pastel on canvas
Age: 16
Country: London

Oil pastel self portrait, under plastic wrap. A response to the theme of lock, using plastic wrap to indicate the idea of how fabrics can constrain and physically trap people, but also distort their appearance meaning that a person’s trapped conditions can alter people’s perception of them. It was Inspired by artists such as Francis Bacon, Silas Onoja and Scott Hutchison. Using elements of their practice to inform my own choices in regard to the style of portrait as well as the material that best showed my skill. I used plastic wrap as it created interesting flowing lines and distortions and I chose an image of myself where I look serene and calm despite the wrap covering my face as I felt that it enhanced the ‘creepiness’.

16 / 20

Amelia Simons

The Dancer image

Amelia Simons

The Dancer
School: Caterham School
Dimension: 42 x 30cm
Medium: Acrylic paint on plain canvas
Age: 15
Country: London

Dancing is a powerful way of healing the mind and body, this is portrayed in this painting. This work includes vibrant colours that reflects and symbolise vivid emotions. This painting creates emotive thoughts towards feminism, inspiring young minds to express themselves, feeling comfort in their own unique mind and body.

17 / 20

Sophia Shade

Tri-Colour Portrait Of Family image

Sophia Shade

Tri-Colour Portrait Of Family
School: Chestnut Grove Academy
Dimension: 89 x 59cm
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Age: 17
Country: London

In this piece I wanted to explore a particularly current topic: the presentation, and the power of modern media. Through consuming the media in a multitude of different ways, day-to-day, our perspectives on topics and current affairs have a tendency to lean to one side or another, of political divides. Leading us to become stuck in our opinions, which are inevitably a product of how and what, we consume. In this acrylic piece, each colour engulfs its subject entirely, representative of how the ideologies and politics we read about can seep into our identity as individuals. Furthermore, the ease in which we are susceptible to what we read inspired the choice of using primary colours, insead of a more complex colour palette. As the piece presents both young and older generations, it also nods to the complete power of the media no matter who you are. With national and international politics becoming strained as the weeks go on, the idea that we are what we read is more topical than ever, with both left and right political spectrums struggling to find the nuances of their positions.

18 / 20

Xi Yang

Vestige  image

Xi Yang

Vestige
School: Dulwich College
Dimension: 90 x 120cm
Medium: Oil on canvas
Age: 17
Country: London

A self-portrait painting with the figure embracing idealised porcelain miniatures of himself; it represents the precariousness of constructing one’s identity with endless facades, which leads to gradual destruction and disintegration.

19 / 20

Andrew Or

Wisdom In Wrinkles image

Andrew Or

Wisdom In Wrinkles
School: Caterham School
Dimension: 42 x 30cm
Medium: Graphite pencil
Age: 15
Country: London

In the ‘Wisdom in Wrinkles’, I emphasise the wrinkles of an elderly man, symbolic of the challenges that he has faced. His wispy beard frames his face with authenticity and refinement; a testament to the wisdom he has gained over the years. The project spanned over two months, requiring a high level of precision as I sought to produce the highest level of realism. I sought to begin this project after the passing of my grandmother; which reminded me of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing every moment with those around me.

20 / 20

Jeh-Nai Smith-Carey

The Oddities image

Jeh-Nai Smith-Carey

The Oddities
School: Graveney School
Dimension: 68 x 74cm
Medium: Acrylic and oil on board
Age: 17
Country: London

This piece commemorates the unusual identities that reside on the fringes of society. Individuals, shunned by the plague of social norms and majority influence – yet they’re stories are flavoured with diversity, colour and culture. This is a theatrical composition, highlighting the expression and stance on these hidden individuals, shedding light on these marginalised communities.

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Thanks for voting!

In the bath_India Dale Key Dates mobile image

Key Dates

Submission Period

5 June — 16 October

Shortlist Announcement

6 November —

Finalists Exhibition

12 — 15 December

Awards Ceremony

13 December —

Events and Exhibitions

Phillips Venue
The London Students Prize Finalists Exhibition

Venue: Phillips, London
Opening Times: Monday – Saturday | 10am-6pm
Dates: 12 – 15 December
Admission: Free

 

Judges

Conrad Shawcross image
Conrad Shawcross
British artist
Conrad Shawcross image

Conrad Shawcross

British artist

Imbued with an appearance of scientific rationality, Conrad Shawcross’ RA (b. 1977) often monumental sculptures explore subjects that lie on the borders of geometry and philosophy, physics and metaphysics.

Inspired by different technologies, the artist’s structures may retain in appearance the authority of machines – yet their raison d’être remains elusive, filled with paradox and wonder. Some have a melancholy feel, while others tend to the sublime, substituting the purely functional for phenomenological experience.  

Over two decades, Shawcross has paid tribute to some of the great pioneers and analysts, and considered specific moments or figures from the past. Shawcross’ art dons a cloak of rationality in order to conceal its more poetic heart. Interrogating what we take for granted and encouraging us to see beyond the physical and remember how limited our perception envelope really is.

Shawcross has completed numerous monumental public commissions across the world, including Paradigm (2016) outside the Francis Crick Institute in London, the 50 metre tall The Optic Cloak (2016) in Greenwich, the 18-metre tall Exploded Paradigm (2018) inside the atrium of the Comcast Technology Center in Philadelphia, Schism (2020) at Château La Coste in Provence, France, the 4.5-metre tall Enwrought Light Fracture in honour of the poet W.B. Yeats in Chiswick (2022), and the yet to be installed Manifold 5:4 (2023) at the future Liverpool Street Entrance to the Elizabeth Line. He has exhibited at institutions across the world, including Palais de Tokyo in Paris, Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, the Museum of Old and New Art in Tasmania, Wadsworth Atheneum in Connecticut, USA, the National Gallery in London, ARTMIA in Beijing, and Château La Coste in France. He is represented by Victoria Miro in London, Tucci Russo in Italy, and Galerie Isa in India.

 

Howard Bilton image
Howard Bilton
Founder and Chairman  
Howard Bilton image

Howard Bilton

Founder and Chairman  

Howard Bilton is Chairman and founder of The Sovereign Group. Howard holds a joint honours BA degree in classics and law from the University of Keele and is qualified as a Barrister and called to the Bars of England/Wales and Gibraltar.  

He is a visiting non-resident professor at Texas A and M University where he assists with their LLM and Masters degrees in International Tax and Offshore Centres.  

In 2003 he formed The Sovereign Art Foundation (SAF) which runs a range of art prizes designed to increase the exposure of artists in the region, while raising money to help disadvantaged children.  

SAF has raised over US$11 million which has been used to help thousands of disadvantaged children using expressive arts as a means of education and rehabilitation.  

Howard has a personal art collection comprising around 420 pieces made by a wide range of artists from students to internationally famous artists.   

He has acted as a judge on various Sovereign sponsored art prizes in Hong Kong, Bahrain, Gibraltar, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, London, Malta, Mauritius, Portugal and Singapore.  He has also acted as a nominator for the Sovereign professional prizes in Africa and Portugal. 

Howard is the Founder and Chairman of Howard’s Folly Wines, Portugal. All wines use art on the labels and often feature work by finalists of the various Sovereign art prizes or children taught by SAF. A proportion of the revenue from wine sales goes to support SAF. 

 

Tamila Kerimova image
Tamila Kerimova
Director, Senior Specialist, 20th Century & Contemporary Art, Phillips
Tamila Kerimova image

Tamila Kerimova

Director, Senior Specialist, 20th Century & Contemporary Art, Phillips

With over eleven years of experience in the art world, Tamila is the Director in the 20th Century & Contemporary Art Department at Phillips Auction House. For over five years she has headed record breaking Day sales that focus on bringing desirable contemporary artists onto the market. Tamila sits on the young committee of the British Friends of the Art Museums of Israel.

Melanie Gerlis image
Melanie Gerlis
Art market columnist for the Financial Times
Melanie Gerlis image

Melanie Gerlis

Art market columnist for the Financial Times

Melanie Gerlis became the weekly art market columnist for the Financial Times in 2016. She was previously Art Market Editor for The Art Newspaper (2007-2016), before which she was a financial communications adviser at Finsbury in the City of London (1996-2005). She has a BA in English Literature from Cambridge University and an MA from Sotheby’s Institute of Art. Her book, Art as an Investment?, was published in 2014 and her forthcoming book, The Art Fair Story: A Rollercoaster Ride, will be published in late 2021 (Lund Humphries).

Photo by Georgie Tamberlin

Nicky Carter image
Nicky Carter
Director/Curator of The Groucho Club’s Art, Artist
Nicky Carter image

Nicky Carter

Director/Curator of The Groucho Club’s Art, Artist

Nicky Carter is an artist, as part of the duo Rob and Nick Carter. She is also The Groucho Club’s Art Director/Curator, and has been for the past 34 years.  

Rob and Nick Carter are a husband-and-wife artist duo who have been collaborating for over 20 years in London, England. Their work is housed on public and private collections around the world, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Foundation Custodia in Paris. 

The Carters’ work examines the boundaries between the analogue and the digital using mediums including camera-less photography, painting, installation, neon, sculpture, and time-based media. The artists’ overarching goal is to harness new technology and reference historical processes that wouldn’t have been traditionally possible to previous artists. 

Accolades: 

The Carters’ work is housed in the collections of the Mauritshuis, The Hague; Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem; Victoria & Albert Museum, London; David Roberts Foundation, London; Städel Museum, Frankfurt; and the Foundation Custodia, Paris. They are the only living artists to have shown a work at the Frick Museum, New York. 

Collectors of Rob and Nick Carter’s work include Sir Elton John, Simon Fuller, Philip Treacy, Matthew Williamson and Stephen Fry. 

@robandnick 

robandnick.com 

Sponsors and Supporters

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Organiser
Charity Partner
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Prize Winners and Previous Finalists

2022

Prize Winners and Previous Finalists arrow
Judges Prize Winner
Xi Yang
Xi Yang art
Public Vote Prize Winner
Otonye Ibiama
Otonye Ibiama art

2021

Prize Winners and Previous Finalists arrow
Judges Prize Winner
Archibald McCombie
Archibald McCombie art
Public Vote Prize Winner
Fasihah Haseeb
Fasihah Haseeb art

2020

Prize Winners and Previous Finalists arrow
Judges Prize Winner
Kerri-Ann Annan
Kerri-Ann Annan art
Public Vote Prize Winner
Fritzie Anne de Gala
Fritzie Anne de Gala art