Emerging artists shortlisted for Platform Graduate Award 2026

The award showcases 26 emerging artists across three locations, with three final awardees due to be announced in October. Selected from 11 universities across the South of England, the shortlisted artists' work will be featured in a season of exhibitions in Oxford, Plymouth and Portsmouth, with many reaching a wider public audience for the first time.

For 2026, Contemporary Visual Arts Network South East (CVAN South East), the organisation behind the award, is partnering with three visual arts venues: Aspex Portsmouth, Modern Art Oxford, and MIRROR/Arts University Plymouth. One awardee from each location will receive a £500 bursary alongside six months of mentoring support.

Oliver Sumner, Manager of CVAN South East, said: "We are delighted to be celebrating fifteen years of this award with our gallery and university partners. The scheme has always evolved, and we are acutely aware of the contrasting world this year's graduates experience from our first cohort in 2012.

“That said, their professional support needs have been fundamentally consistent, covering living costs, building their network, establishing a profile and finding affordable workspace. I wish all this year's exhibitors the very best of luck and look forward to supporting them on their path in this crucial first year since graduation."

Both gradute’s work will be shown at Aspex in Portsmouth as part of the shortlisted exhibition "The Shape of a Spell", which runs from 18 September to 15 November 2026.

Kai, who studied photography, is showing a piece called "The Lone Dandelion," part of a wider series titled Kenopsia, a word meaning "the eeriness of places left behind," coined by author John Koenig.

On what the exhibition's theme means to them, Kai said: "'The Shape of a Spell' really encapsulates that; it's about stepping into a new reality and somewhat distracting yourself and being immersed in this artist space and taking your time to really review what you see in front of you."

Kai, who is Autistic, also spoke about what the bursary and mentoring would mean for their practice: "This would be such a giant boost in confidence and reassurance, knowing that I can financially keep funding more photography projects and upgrade the equipment if required. Knowing this strange period of just graduating and adjusting... having a mentor in this position would be really beneficial when being a graduate artist in this new landscape."

Chhainguns, who studied fine art, was shortlisted with a piece that has a strong personal connection to her identity and heritage. Reflecting on the recognition, she said: “It's such an honour to be shortlisted, especially with such a talented cohort. I feel that my efforts did not go unnoticed, and I am proud to be chosen alongside the piece which is the most entangled in my identity and heritage.”

"I am so grateful to be exhibiting in a public facing manner so quickly after graduating, it's such a privilege," she adds. "As this piece is so interconnected with culture, I would hope it maneuvers viewers into thinking about their own identity and alchemizing negative experiences into positives."

Looking ahead to the mentorship on offer through the award, Chhainguns said: "The mentorship would be life changing and a huge step into my artistic career. When you take the career path of your passion in life, you often second guess if you made the right decision and this opportunity would be so validating."

The awardees of the Platform Graduate Award 2026 will be announced in October.