Skip to main content
Story

Alumni of Colour Association x UAL Showcase: Home, heritage and transcendental cultures exhibition

Plaster cast of a pair of hands holding a pink opaque shell and sand.
  • Written byEleanor Harvey
  • Published date 06 May 2025
Plaster cast of a pair of hands holding a pink opaque shell and sand.
Lucy Chapman, 2022 MA Art and Science, Central Saint Martins, UAL | Photograph: Ben Turner

An exhibition of new work from recent graduates of University of the Arts London is opening later this month at Chelsea College of Arts. The work on display will explore the theme of home, heritage and transcendental cultures, and is the culmination of a project between the Alumni of Colour Association (AoCA) and UAL Showcase.

Members' of the AoCA selected and curated a collection of artists whose projects are currently on Showcase. The collection, titled 'Transcendental Cultures', looks at the notion of home and heritage through the lived experience of 6 recent UAL graduates. The AoCA volunteers then supported and mentored the graduates to each develop a new piece of work for the in-person exhibition.

Explore the 'Transcendental Cultures' collection on Showcase.

The premise of this exhibition looks at the notion of home and heritage through the lived experience of five young UAL graduates. Originating from countries as varied as Pakistan, Palestine, Bangladesh, Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan each artist explores their vestiges of culture while working under the mentorship of UAL AoCA alumni to develop their ideas. The artists investigate liminal lived cultures that transcend geographical limitations and evolve to find value and new meaning through a broad spectrum of art-forms, be it textiles, painting, ceramics, photography or zines. Through their creative manifestations, they seek and share (eroding) traditions, oral generational knowledge, memory against the backdrop of ultra-fast urban development and change.

— Samar F. Zia, curator and mentor

Featured artists

Mentors

Alumni of Colour Association

The AoCA is a supportive community of UAL alumni to help increase the visibility and representation of people of colour in the creative industries. They create opportunities to share ideas, knowledge, skills, stories and networks to increase confidence and spark empowerment.

UAL Showcase

UAL Showcase is an always-on global platform. It presents the latest work in art, communication, design, fashion, media, performance and creative computing from UAL graduates, and it offers an exceptional directory of new creativity.

Home, Heritage and Transcendental Cultures

Thursday 22 May
6pm – 9pm
Chelsea College of Arts

Book your place at the opening night.