What is the Gary Hume Scholarship?
The Gary Hume Scholarship was established in 2018 to honour the legacy of British contemporary artist Gary Hume. The award supports emerging visualarts students in the United Kingdom, providing financial assistance, mentorship, and exposure to professional networks. Each year the scholarship is open to undergraduate and postgraduate candidates studying painting, drawing, sculpture, or mixed media.
2022 marked the fifth year of the programme and saw a record number of applicants, reflecting both the growing reputation of the scholarship and the increasing interest in Humes vibrant, colourdriven practice.
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be a UK or EU resident.
- Enrolled in a recognised highereducation institution offering a Bachelors, Masters or PhD in a visualarts discipline.
- Must be in the second year of study or later (or equivalent for postgraduate programmes).
- Applicants must submit a portfolio of no more than 12 works created within the last three years.
- Academic standing of at least a 2:1 (or equivalent) is preferred but not mandatory.
Application Process
All submissions were handled through the official scholarship portal between 1March and 30April2022. The process consisted of three stages:
- Online Form: Basic personal information, a statement of intent (max500words), and a CV.
- Portfolio Upload: Highresolution images (JPEG/PNG, 300dpi) with brief descriptions for each piece.
- Letter of Recommendation: One academic or professional reference submitted directly by the referee.
After the deadline, the selection panel comprising curators, practising artists and a representative from the founding family reviewed each application on the basis of artistic merit, originality, and alignment with Gary Humes aesthetic concerns.
2022 Scholarship Winners
Four scholars were awarded a total of 20,000 in stipends for the 20222023 academic year. The recipients and their project briefs are listed below.
- Alex Morris (University of Leeds BA Fine Art) Explores the tension between digital abstraction and traditional painting techniques. His project, Pixelated Flesh, uses acrylics to mimic lowresolution screen images.
- NaomiLee (Royal College of Art MFA Sculpture) Investigates materiality through recycled plastics and neon lighting, creating immersive installations titled Neon Waste.
- DavidKhan (Glasgow School of Art PhD Visual Arts) Delves into the history of colour in British art, producing a series of monochrome canvases that echo Humes signature reds and blues.
- EmilyRoss (Goldsmiths BA Painting) Focuses on portraiture and identity, using bold, flat colour blocks to convey emotional states.
The scholarship gave me the freedom to experiment without the pressure of commercial expectations. It was a turning point in my practice. NaomiLee
Impact of the 2022 Scholarship
The 2022 cohort has already begun to influence the contemporary art scene. Highlights include:
- Two solo exhibitions at regional galleries (Leeds Contemporary and Glasgow Art House) featuring works created under the scholarship.
- A collaborative public mural in Manchester, commissioned by the city council and led by Alex Morris.
- Publication of a catalogue, Colour and Continuity: The Gary Hume Scholarship 2022, distributed to over 150 institutions worldwide.
- Increased visibility for the selected artists on social media, collectively gaining more than 120,000 new followers.
Beyond the immediate benefits, the scholarship has reinforced the importance of supporting earlycareer artists whose practice resonates with Humes commitment to colour, form and the unexpected.
