Talented Oldham artist Connor wins 2020 Ingram Prize

Date published: 29 November 2020


Oldham's Connor Coulston has been announced as a winner in the hugely prestigious Ingram Prize art awards.

Launched in 2016, the Ingram Prize has become an important celebration of the work of artists at the start of their careers.

Now in its fifth year, this year’s award looks set to build upon its legacy of providing a platform for even greater success.

From a shortlist of 37, three winning works have now been selected – a ceramic ‘depressed ewer’ by Connor, a set of bronze sculptures by Kristina Chan inspired by the Australian bush fires, and a film exploring a black woman's search for spiritual cleansing by Madinah Farhannah Thompson.

Connor’s work concerns itself with the kitsch charity shop ornaments that once took pride of place in a home and then end up in the bargain bucket at the local Oxfam.

Many of his works are reinterpretations of these objects, but with either a socio-political undertone or a reflection on childhood memories.

Sometimes, Connor, it feels like I'm just waiting to die - Depressed Ewer was created in reaction to a conversation he had with his mother when asked what it feels like to live in their hometown of Oldham.

Connor said: “I didn't intend on creating the piece when I was making the Ewer - but the first signals of my mum's depression were playing on my mind as I was going through the same feelings at the time.

"It felt like I was subconsciously putting these feelings and emotions into the piece and the clay knew how to respond.

"It kept slumping, unable to meet me halfway, and do what I wanted: to be the perfect ewer.

"Eventually, I succumbed to material and the process and stopped forcing the clay to be perfect but allowed it to react to my emotions at the time.”

The selected artists will have their prize-winning entries purchased for the Ingram Collection.

One of the prize-winning artists will be invited to give a solo exhibition in late 2021, and all the finalists will be invited to apply for a UK based residency project in 2021.


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