Glasgow School of Art degree show kicks off with exhibition of students' work

Students from the Glasgow School of Art have presented their work at the institution’s 2023 degree show.

The annual showcase – which opened on Friday – allows those graduating from the university to exhibit their work in front of industry heavyweights and the general public.

This year’s cohort features a variety of mediums and a vast array of of techniques and materials ranging from paintbrushes on canvas to immersive system design for gaming and virtual reality.

For most students, the show features the culmination of four years of hard work allowing them to fully express their creative vision.

Some students have already been able to sell their work.

Misra Balkan, who is among those exhibiting their work, said she was “relieved” to see her creations being displayed together.

“I feel quite relieved seeing all of this together, finally, and being able to enjoy it with everyone else as well,” she told STV News.

“There is not one specific message that I want my work to get, it’s rather the feeling that I want to give to the audience through colours and composition.”

In addition to the physical degree show, there will be a series of city wide digital galleries provided by Ocean Scotland, to bring the best of the artwork to the outdoors.

Director Penny Macbeth said the showcase was vital for those pursuing art and design as a career.

“Students have been selling work even at the director’s preview,” she added.

“People are going out to buy work, collecting work, getting galleries.

“We work the show really hard, but we get a lot of firms, leading industry figures coming in and that brings job opportunities.”

The Glasgow School of Art degree show 2023 runs from the Garnethill campus from Friday, June 2 to Sunday, June 11.