The Global Design Graduate Show

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Graduate shortlisted for Global Design Graduate Show in collaboration with Gucci

Bath Spa University BA (Hons) Fine Art graduate Milly Aburrow has been shortlisted out of thousands of entries for the 2023 Arts Thread Global Design Graduate Show, in collaboration with luxury brand, Gucci. 

Shortlisted in the Fine Arts/Photography/Craft category, Milly said: 

“Being shortlisted for this competition means a lot. I’m so grateful and honoured to be part of a category where there’s so much great work and talent.” 

Described as the launchpad for art and design students worldwide, Arts Thread represents thousands of students across hundreds of design schools. 

The Global Design Graduate Show, open to art and design graduates from the year 2022-2023, is the fourth edition of its kind and welcomes transatlantic talent from universities across the globe. It hosts four creative categories: Fashion/Accessories/Textiles, Digital/Visual/Comm Film, Product/Architecture/Interiors and Fine/Art/Phtography/Craft. 

Racking up a record number of applications, this year saw over 5000 students worldwide applying for a spot in the show with their end of year projects. Out of these applicants, a panel of expert judges cherry picked a select few whose work stood out from the rest.   

Earlier this year, Milly became the recipient of the Kenneth Armitage Young Sculptor Prize 2023 after showcasing ‘Fill me in, Sandwich Counter’ at the Bath Spa University Undergraduate Degree Show – an exhibition showcasing the extraordinary achievements of the University's graduating students. 

Crediting her earlier accolades, Milly said: 

“Receiving the Kenneth Armitage Young Sculptor Prize 2023 gave me the confidence to begin applying for other awards and opportunities. Despite any outcome, these experiences are helping me grow as an artist.” 

Her project, ‘Fill Me In, Sandwich Counter’ is an uncanny installation of the everyday, encapsulating the correlation between connotations of food and its language. The project ‘explores the freedom of choice and personal expression in the constructs of Western Society. Through a playful colour palette and a comical stylisation, she characterises the parameters of commercialisation and our consumerist society that defines a part of everyone’s life.’  

Milly, who found the opportunity while searching for open calls on Instagram, graduated with a BA (Hons) Fine Art earlier this year and now works as a full-time artist and the graduate resident artist at 44AD Artspace in Bath’s city centre. 

Talking about her time at Bath Spa University, Milly said: 

“Bath Spa could not have been more supportive of my passion for fine art, and my disability. The technicians on my course, my tutors and all the staff helped me to find ways to do everything I wanted to do. I've had cerebral palsy since birth and have always dreamt of being an artist. Saying no is never an answer at Bath Spa, we always find a way." 

The Arts Thread’s judging panel will crown the winner of this year’s Global Design Graduate Show on Monday 16 October.  

You can vote for Milly in the public vote for her chance to win ‘Public Favourite’ on the Arts Thread website until 11 October.