London based artist and graduate of the Royal College of Art’s MA Photography programme, Aisha Seriki is named the first winner of the JM Finn Graduate Artist Award, which grants £5,000 to an outstanding emerging artist to support them with studio costs at a critical moment in their career.
The award is significant, given the cost of studio fees is one of the biggest obstacles emerging artists face in today’s landscape. Aisha Seriki was selected for the award by a panel of judges from Affordable Art Fair and JM Finn, chosen from the six graduate artists featured in the fair’s 2023 Recent Graduates Exhibition: An Intimate Vocabulary, for her exceptional talent, skill and dedication to her craft.
The exhibition’s curator Nephertiti Oboshie Schandorf comments: “Aisha’s practice and networks will thrive with a professional studio, not just in technical development, but also socially and conceptually. As a working-class artist who has grown up in South London, through her work she has great potential to represent the UK and African artists not just in the realm of fine art, but I also believe in editorial and moving image across film and music.”
The JM Finn Graduate Artist Award is generously supported by JM Finn, Lead Partner of Affordable Art Fair Battersea Autumn. The exhibition runs at the fair in Battersea Park until 22 October.
Aisha Seriki is a Nigerian, London-based multimedia artist specialising in fine art photography. Her interest in photography stems from her father’s obsession with documenting all her significant childhood events. Aisha’s creative practice is driven by both imagination and experience. Grounded by the spirit of Sankofa, her practice invokes the historical past as a method to understand the present realities of existence. She graduated with a first class honours degree in Global Liberal Arts from SOAS University of London in 2020. In 2023 Aisha completed her MA photography programme at the Royal College of Art, winning the New Photography Prize and the SW Darkroom Award for her degree project ‘Ori Inu’ (pictured above).
Aisha Seriki says: “I am so thrilled to be selected for the JM Finn Graduate Artist Award. It’s really exciting to have the opportunity of a dedicated space where I can create new work outside of my home. The effects of the cost of living crisis and the expense of art materials meant that I wasn’t able to consider getting a professional studio at this point in my career. But winning the JM Finn Graduate Artist Award changes that! It means I can continue to focus on evolving the material aspects of my practice without worrying about the financial stress of studio costs. I’m excited to start exploring available studio spaces in Battersea, south London.”
Oliver Tregoning of JM Finn says: “We believe in financial freedom and security, to pursue what truly matters to you. Supporting this award for young and upcoming artists reflects our mantra and dedication to empowering emerging talent as they follow their passions by embarking on a career in the art world. We are thrilled to be able to support Aisha at this critical moment in her career, and can’t wait to see what she does next.”
Hugo Barclay, Fair Director at Affordable Art Fair UK says: “Thanks to JM Finn, this award will guarantee a level of security to an emerging artist when they need it most, so they can focus on making great art and progressing their career.”
Affordable Art Fair Battersea Autumn runs until 22 October, with the best in contemporary art from 112 galleries from all over the world, alongside special exhibitions and installations, curated edits of the best art under £1,000 and under £500, a new art bookshop from Thames & Hudson, Art After Dark Lates, weekend family activities and more.
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