The YVA’s : Young Viral Artists

Many students, who have been working towards an end of year show, are now unable to exhibit because of social distancing and safety. Here’s a way to showcase some of the works by six talented new artists who are soon to be new graduates from institutions all over the country…

Looking at a selection of final year students from art institutions all over the country. 

Its an uncertain time for many creatives right now amidst Covid-19. Degree shows and exhibitions have been cancelled, semesters have been altered and we are all wondering what to do now our initial goals are vastly different to what they were only five weeks ago. As a Masters Student at Edinburgh College of Art I have had to move my work from my studio in the University to my flat where I am working from home on new themes for the next semester. The internet has become a more vital tool than ever before by keeping everyone connected, and with that comes creative ways to inform those using these virtual platforms.

Many students, who have been working towards an end of year show, are now unable to exhibit because of social distancing and safety. Here’s a way to showcase some of the works by six talented new artists who are soon to be new graduates from institutions all over the country:

Alessia Franchi 

Alessia Franchi is a London based artist from Edinburgh. She is completing her MFA Sculpture at the Slade School of Art this year. She graduated from Central Saint Martins BA Fine art in 2016. 
Instagram – @alessiaafranchi)
Website – http://www.alessiafranchi.com

Lizzie Knott 

Lizzie Knott is a third year Student at Cambridge School of Art. 
‘Having moved back home early due to Covid-19 I am now based just north of London in Watford, Hertfordshire. Throughout my degree I experimented a lot with ways of working whether that be through the medium that I use or the subjects that I approach. However, I feel as though I have finally found my footing! I enjoy creating bold compositions with funky characters and lots of digital brush marks to create work that is most suitable for editorial work. Working with articles allows me to generate a wide variety of ideas and this really excites me. I also create work that surrounds the theme of mental health and I really enjoy visually communicating important subject matters like this’.
Instagram – @lizzieillustrates 
Website – www.lizzieknott.com

Camila Ospina 

A Masters of Fine Art Student at Edinburgh College of Art, Camila Ospina Gaitán is a Colombian artist. She studied in Bogotá at Javeriana University and in 2016 she was awarded with the LAP program scholarship from the Japanese government. Studying in Nagoya and Tokyo, in (上智大学 ) Sophia University, this experience has a huge influence on her work. Her projects are developed by different media such as sculpture, installation, and photography, working concepts as identities through the aesthetics of the ordinary. Nowadays, she is working with her Colombian identity, deconstructing the international sexualization and stereotyping of Latin women.
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/camila_ospina_gaitan/
Web page- http://www.camilaospinagaitan.com

Natasha Jensen

Natasha Jensen is a visual artist and Canadian Settler from Moh’kins’tsis/Calgary, Treaty 7 territory in the Southern Alberta region, Canada. Jensen currently resides in Edinburgh, Scotland while they complete a Master’s of Arts degree in Contemporary Art Practice at the Edinburgh College of Art. Natasha has exhibited in online exhibition, galleries and festivals in Canada and the UK. Jensen has worked as a curator and community development specialist with artist organisations such as Arts Commons, Sled Island Music Festival, and Ignite Arts Festival to deliver impactful interdisciplinary programming to the general public through exhibitions, workshops, lectures, receptions, and large civic events that promote compassion and equity in the arts.

Funmi Lijadu 

Funmi Lijadu is a freelance journalist and artist specialising in collage. Her Artworks often involve surrealist images that combine conflicting images. She is in her second year at the university of Edinburgh studying English Language and Literature. She is a contributing editor for The Tab Edinburgh where she writes opinion pieces on pop culture topics like Love Island but also tackles complex topics such as race and identity. She has also written for publications such as Gal-Dem and Black Ballad which prioritise women of colour in the UK. 
Instagram – @fumlij 

Victoria Callinan 

Edinburgh based artist, Victoria Callinan examines the role of the ‘safe space’ through her installation, poetry and performative works which navigate the difficult landscape of being a highly sensitive person. The Artist describes the sensations of life as ‘feeling 100%, 100% of the time’ and uses her practice to construct protective realities in which she feels secure. 

As Artists we can share and promote work via virtual platforms which is a great way to stay connected through lockdown.

Rosalind Main, Visual Artwork Editor