Representing the creative future

ALL THE DEGREE SHOWS TO CHECK THIS SUMMER

We put together the ultimate guide of this year's must-see art school graduate shows

Degree shows are (mostly) back. Some IRL for the first time in two years, others URL. Over the next two months, the admittedly embattled class of 2022 from art and fashion schools across the globe are preparing to exhibit their wares to the masses, and crucially, the industry. This cohort of students has seen the world turn on its head during their studies, which were hugely impacted by the pandemic. As we emerge from the dregs of covid-induced online learning and improvised home studio set-ups, these degree shows provide a joyous opportunity to celebrate getting through what has been a uniquely challenging experience. We’ve created this guide to the degree shows not to be missed this summer, from Helsinki to Manchester, Rotterdam to New York, this is where to see the fruits of the resilient class of 2022’s labour.

Central Saint Martins: June 14-22

Central Saint Martins’ degree show season is already well underway, having already exhibited the work of foundation, undergraduate fashion design and fashion communication cohort. Yet there’s still so much more to come. Not to be missed, the college-wide show features the likes of undergraduate textile design, jewellery design and fine art, alongside the work of postgraduate students studying anything from material futures to character animation. The show opens at Saint Martins’ Granary Square building for a private view on 14th June and runs until the 22nd. Student work will also be available to view online in the form of the Graduate Showcase.

 

Royal College of Art: June 25-30

The renowned Royal College’s graduate show features the work of postgraduate students whose study spans from fine art to fashion design, textiles, intelligent mobility and architecture to name a few. This year, the show takes place across two London locations: the new RCA building in Battersea, alongside RCA’s Kensington site. The show runs from 25-30th June, open every day.

 

Ravensbourne: July 2-5

Staying in London, Ravensbourne’s degree show features the work of undergraduate students studying the likes of architecture, media, fashion and design. The show takes place at the university’s campus in North Greenwich and runs from 2-5th July.

 

Swedish School of Textiles: June 3-August 28 

Over to Sweden now, and the Swedish School of Textiles’ degree show which this year is taking place in the form of a graduate exhibition at the Textile Museum in Borås. The show features the work of both undergraduate and postgraduate fashion and textile design students and runs from June 3 right through to 28th August.

 

Kingston School of Art: June 6-11

This year Kingston’s degree show runs both online and in-person at the university’s Knights Park campus from 6th-11th June. At the show, you will find an eclectic mix of exciting creative talent, both undergraduate and postgraduate. With work on show from fashion design to illustration and animation, architecture to fine art, take a trip down to Surrey – this one is not to be missed. Alongside this, Kingston’s fashion class of ’22 are holding a series of three student-led shows on Friday, June 10th.

 

Chelsea College of Arts: June 17-25 + July 5-9

Chelsea’s degree shows run in two halves, beginning with the undergraduate and graduate diploma show from the 17th-25th of June, featuring textile design, fine art and graphic design to name a few. Following on from this comes the postgraduate show, which runs from 5th-9th July. Both are held at Chelsea’s imposing campus, which formerly housed a prison. All work is available to view online via the Graduate Showcase.

 

Goldsmiths: June 24-27 + July 22-26

Down in South London, the prestigious Goldsmith’s undergraduate fine art degree show takes place from Friday 24th to Monday 27th June, with a private view on the 23rd. Second to this, the postgraduate show runs from Friday 22nd July to Monday 26th, with a private view on the 21st.

 

London College of Fashion: Mid July

LCF’s class of 2022 will show their work at the college’s degree show, which returns to East London’s Truman Brewery this year with both undergraduate and postgraduate work on display. The show runs from mid-July onwards, exact dates are still to be confirmed, so keep your eyes peeled. Again, all work can also be viewed online via the Graduate Showcase.

 

Slade: June 17-25

The prestigious Slade School of Fine Art has already hosted its undergraduate degree show this year, proving hugely popular (with lines around the block on its opening night), yet the postgraduate show still awaits, running from 17th-25th June, this is certainly one to put in the calendar.

 

Camberwell College of Arts: June 18-25 + July 4-9

Back in South London now, Camberwell’s degree show takes place in the college’s Peckham Road campus and features the work of students studying everything from graphic design to sculpture and illustration. The undergraduate show runs from 18th-25th June, followed by the postgraduate fine art degree show, running from 4-9th July. As with all UAL colleges, graduate work is available to view on the university’s online Graduate Showcase.

 

Aalto University

Helsinki’s renowned Aalto University’s graduate fashion show took place as a virtual event on the 2nd of June, however, you can view the class of 22’s work on the university’s website .

 

Fashion Institute of Technology: June 8

New York’s FIT’s postgraduate fashion show will be held at 3 PM EST/8 PM BST on June 8th, and will also be viewable via Livestream.

 

National College of Art and Design: June 8-14

Over to Ireland now, and Dublin’s National College of Art and Design class of ’22 will be showing their work from Wednesday 8th June until 14th June. On show are work from undergraduate fashion, textiles, and jewellery design to postgraduate fine art.

 

Gerrit Rietveld Academie: June 24 + July 6-10

Over in Amsterdam, GRA’s fashion show takes place at Centrale Markthal at both 18:00 and 19:30 on Friday, June 24th. Following on from this, the college’s 170-strong class of ’22 spanning fourteen departments present their final work in exhibition form. Spanning from photography to glassmaking, this eclectic degree show is sure to impress. The showcase occupies 5800 square metres of exhibition space and runs from 6-10th July.

 

Willem de Kooning Academy: July 13-17

Staying in the Netherlands for now, Willem de Kooning Academy’s degree show takes place from July 13th through to July 17th and consists of an exhibition which coincides with talks, presentations, workshops and a store presenting books and fashion objects. Alongside this, the academy also includes a film festival accompanied by Q&A and roundtable discussions.

 

Manchester School of Art: June 11-22 

Manchester School of Art’s degree show, entitled ‘falling into place’ opens from Saturday 11th until Wednesday 22nd June at Manchester Metropolitan Universities campus. Work on display includes textile design, fine art and illustration, to name a few.

 

Glasgow School of Art: June 1-12

GSA’s degree show returns this year from the 1st until the 12th of June and occupies seven separate buildings across the city. From fashion and textile design to interior design and silversmithing to the school of fine art and printmaking, GSA’s show covers a lot of bases and is certainly worth a visit.

 

Polimoda: June 12-13 

Over in Florence, Polimoda’s graduate fashion shows take place on June 12th and June 13th during the one hundred and first edition of Pitti Uomo.