York Art Gallery puts teenagers’ artwork in spotlight

Eighteen young artists took part in a 15-week National Saturday Club at York Art Gallery.

The club gives 13 to 16-year-olds across the country the opportunity to study subjects they are passionate about for free

In York, weekly sessions focused on printmaking inspired by Harland Miller’s letter-painting series, some of which is on display at the art gallery in Exhibition Square.

One of the young artists creating the work which is on show at York Art Gallery (Image: Supplied) “Out of everything I do in the week this is my favourite thing,” said one of the participants taking part in York.

Griselda Goldsbrough, programme lead, said: “I think the nicest thing for me is seeing all the young people every week sharing with friends their joy of art.”

The young artists were inspired by York-born Miller’s work – huge, bright pop art canvases on show at the art gallery as part of his XXX exhibition – and drew on the techniques acquired through the workshops.

They were guided by printmaker and illustrator, Becky Long-Smith, and experimented in creative techniques such as collage, lino printing and block printing.

York by Harland Miller at York Art Gallery (Image: Olivia Hemingway) The group also participated in industry masterclasses with Thin Ice Press at the University of York and The People Powered Press in Saltaire, using a variety of printing presses whilst learning about the history of printing.

They chose words which inspired and empowered them and encouraged the viewers to reflect on how words and meanings shape understandings of the world around them. 

Together the group produced the art piece, Words of Power: A Collaborative Sculpture, which reflects on themes of place, identity and resilience. It consists of colourful blocks with words chosen by the participants. 

The teenage artists creating the work which is on show at York Art Gallery (Image: Supplied) Art curated by the Saturday Club participants is now on display at York Art Gallery until the end of June when it will move to London and become part of the National Saturday Club Summer Show at Somerset House.

“I’ve learnt to express myself in different ways,” said another young artist taking part.

“I like the opportunities at Saturday Club that you can’t really get at school,” added a third.

Miller, now 61, has told The Press he first entered York Art Gallery as a teenager.

Aged just 16, he was on his lunch break from a job nearby having just left school.

And never – in his wildest dreams – did he think his artwork would one day be exhibited at the gallery. 

“We weren’t really encouraged to think about becoming artists in the seventies,” he said. “Art was something other people would do.”

He added: “It seemed foolish to fantasise about becoming an artist.

“Rather than this being a dream come true, I would never have dreamt of coming back to York with what are very contemporary paintings.”

XXX by Harland Miller runs from Friday until August 31 at York Art Gallery. Admittance is included with a general art gallery ticket.