Wellington Place launches new series of window art installations to celebrate young local talent

A new series of vibrant art installations in the windows of buildings 4 and 11 Wellington Place have been installed to celebrate and showcase emerging talent.

In partnership with Leeds Art University, the Artist’s Window initiative was set up to support and nurture local talent in the arts industry. The project provides students with a real-life opportunity to channel their creative talents and showcase their work in Leeds city centre.

Five winning artists were selected from submissions from students at Leeds Arts University. Four of the art installations will be on display in the window of the recently completed 11 Wellington Place for three months on a rotational basis. The fifth artwork by Leeds Art University MA student Becky Long-Smith, ‘Window Collage, 2022’, will be displayed at 4 Wellington Place.
The competition brief gave students complete artistic license, with entries ranging from paintings, photo series to sculptures.

The first installation in 11 Wellington Place is from Emma Jones, a recent MA Illustration graduate from Leeds Art University titled ‘Harebell, 2023’. Inspired by the natural beauty and wildlife of Leeds and Yorkshire, this piece depicts a scene using collaged flowers native to the area. Passionate about sustainability, Emma used repurposed papers to create the piece.

Emma said: “I instantly fell in love with Leeds when I moved here in 2021 because of how friendly and welcoming it is as a city. Wellington Place itself has a great sense of community, and I’m so grateful to be part of it. The Artist’s Window is an incredible opportunity for artists to showcase their work. It’s projects like this which inspire me and create accessibility within the competitive arts industry.”

4 Wellington Place artist Becky added: “Having my work selected to be displayed at Wellington Place is fantastic! It’s given me a huge confidence boost and its urged me to continue to apply for more art opportunities to showcase my work. Initiatives like this for local arts are so important for developing talent of the future, and I’m very grateful to Wellington Place for that.”

Dominique Murray, marketing manager and head of customer experience at MEPC, the developer and asset manager behind Wellington Place, said: “The Artist’s Windows have been a brilliant addition to Wellington Place, so we couldn’t be happier to have continued the initiative for 11 Wellington Place, as well as extending the exhibition at number 4. We’re regularly engaging with the local community with initiatives to inspire and support young talent, and this is a fantastic example of that.

“The selected artworks are spectacular, and not only encapsulate our local area but put sustainability at the heart. We’re delighted to be showcasing these incredibly talented artists and providing a platform for more people to be able to enjoy them.”

Other art installations to come include:
2nd installation: Holly Prosser (October 2023 – January 2024)
3rd installation: Nicole Chang (February 2024 – May 2024)
4th installation: Maisie Slater (June 2024 – September 2024)