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Lester Aldridge has partnered with Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) to showcase artwork from emerging graduates, bringing a collection of contemporary art to its Bournemouth office while supporting artists as they begin their professional careers.
Under a 12-month rental model, selected pieces from AUB’s recent BA (Hons) Fine Art and MA Painting graduates will be showcased across the firm’s headquarters. The initiative provides recent graduates with financial support, professional exposure and the opportunity to share their work with colleagues, clients and visitors.
Representatives from Lester Aldridge visited AUB’s Undergraduate Summer Shows and the MA Painting exhibition at Lighthouse, Poole, to select a curated collection of artwork for display.
Following the exhibition, Associate Professor Dominic Shepherd, MA Painting Course Leader, said:
“It was a real pleasure to witness the excitement and genuine curiosity with which the Lester Aldridge selectors viewed the artworks. It’s a wonderful partnership that’s bringing the paintings out of the studio to a new appreciative audience.”
The collection reflects the breadth of talent emerging from AUB’s Fine Art and MA Painting programmes, featuring a range of artistic styles, mediums and techniques, from intricate pointillism and expressive abstract painting to large-scale contemporary works and sculptural forms.
Among the selected works is Do I Look Like I Feel? by BA Fine Art graduate Madeleine Iyengar. The piece recently claimed first place in the Over-18s category at the Dorset Art Prize. Comprising 49 individual pointillism drawing squares that form a single larger image, it represents approximately 200 hours of work exploring themes of contrast, duality and identity.
Madeleine commented:
“Having my work selected by Lester Aldridge as I graduated was such an incredible way to step into my professional career. Beyond the direct support and validation it gives us as emerging artists, initiatives like this – and the Dorset Art Prize – show just how supportive the creative community is here in Dorset.
Having local businesses invest in graduate work creates a real bridge between university and the wider art world, and I’m so grateful to be part of a region that actively champions its creatives.”
The display also includes works by BA Fine Art graduate Imani King and MA Painting graduates Rachael Lee and Nigel Shooter. Together, the selected artworks showcase a diverse range of perspectives, artistic approaches and creative disciplines.
Richard Waring, Course Leader for BA (Hons) Fine Art at AUB, added:
“Seeing our graduates’ work embraced in such a professional setting is a fantastic endorsement of their talent and creative excellence, marking an exciting milestone as they begin their careers as exhibiting artists.”
Tom Alder, Managing Partner at Lester Aldridge, commented:
“Creating a workspace that facilitates curiosity and innovation is important to us, which is why partnering with Arts University Bournemouth felt like a natural fit.
As a firm, we are deeply committed to supporting arts and culture across the region. Loan schemes like this keep creative talent visible in Dorset, and after the 12-month rental period, our colleagues and clients will have the opportunity to purchase the pieces directly from the artists.
This isn’t just about brightening our office walls; it’s about delivering a tangible benefit to talented young artists at a pivotal point in their careers.”
The artwork was unveiled at Lester Aldridge in August and will remain on display for 12 months. Throughout the year, the firm plans to spotlight individual artists and explore opportunities to bring clients and the creative community together through events centred around the collection.
