Two New England College students have had their work selected for a rising artist competition through the New Hampshire Art Association (NHAA).
The NHAA’s “Fledgling Artists under 30” will display the works at the Levy Gallery in Portsmouth, NH. This is the second consecutive year the Levy Gallery will showcase this exhibit. Two NEC juniors, Olivia Royal and Abbey Skipper, will have their work displayed.
“Artists chosen for this exhibition will receive a complimentary one-year membership to NHAA and cash prizes will be awarded for first place, second place, and third place,” the website states.
Olivia Royal is a junior majoring in photography who likes to focus on alternative processes, which includes pinhole cameras, camera obscura, cyanotypes, and lumen prints.
Olivia’s submission focuses on her vision and enchantment of her grandmother.
“The piece itself is about my grandmother who I never got to meet and have only heard stories about. In the center of it her face is cut out as if she’s tucked away in a locket somewhere, a fleeting memory,” she said.
The inspiration for her piece came to fruition during “The Handmade Photo,” the class where she chose to act on her muse. The announcement was a surprise as it managed to slip into her junk mail, but Royal said she is excited for her first opportunity to showcase her work in a gallery outside of school.
Skipper is a junior, also majoring in photography. She draws much of her inspiration from books and photobooks.
“A lot of my work is intuitive,” she said. Skipper tries to find beauty in things other people have a hard time understanding, utilizing grief in her art. She is working to continue her career in photography, focusing on picture books.
According to the official NHAA website, the artwork will be on display throughout March.
“Being selected for this exhibit not only provided recognition but also enhances their prospects for future opportunities in the at world,” the Executive Director of NHAA, Amanda Kidd-Kestler states on the website.
