Joy: Every Day

Since 2006, Manchester Craft and Design Centre have partnered with Manchester Metropolitan University to highlight the exciting and innovative talent developed on both their Three-Dimensional Design and Textiles in Practice courses. We have worked with an incredible array of makers working with many different materials. The exhibition has always been an exciting opportunity to showcase new talent and help to launch the graduate’s careers. After a pause due to lockdown, we are thrilled to return with our 15th award show at a time where celebrating creativity is more important than ever.

To celebrate our 15th award show, we have opened up the award to five graduates of exceptional talent. Each artist shown here has navigated an extremely challenging environment whilst studying and developing their work. Like all of us, these artists have dealt with repeated lockdowns, shifts and pauses in routines and isolated living. Each artist has used this experience to shape their work.

Working in ceramics, metalwork and textile & surface design, the five makers have all explored the theme of finding joy in everyday acts. From bringing nature into our daily lives, to the everyday objects we carry around with us, even to the simple act of breakfast, these makers have created work that brings joy to the everyday.

Lockdown meant a lot of our normal activities slowed down or stopped which prompted artists Yasmeen Kinley and Hannah Inglis to interrogate where in their daily routine they found joy and how they could celebrate and enhance this.

Living and studying in an urban environment has motivated Zhenlian Wu, Emily Bagshaw and Emily McManus to create innovative ways to bring nature into their homes through detailed surface design and structures that encourage wildlife.

The five makers work covers a huge variety of disciplines and skills but what brings them together is a shared ambition to create beautiful work, develop their talent and to find joy, every day.