Belonging – first solo show for award-winning Â鶹´«Ã½ graduate Published on: 5 January 2018 Emerging artist Joy Labinjo who won one of the art world’s most generous prizes, will launch her first exhibition in London this month. Reflection and debate Joy, who graduated from Â鶹´«Ã½ with a degree in last year, was awarded the prestigious Woon Art Prize in 2017. The prize, jointly hosted by Northumbria University and BALTIC, includes a £20,000 fellowship, including 12-months studio space in the Woon Tai Jee studio at BALTIC 39 in Â鶹´«Ã½. Her exhibition Belonging will open on 11 January at Morley Gallery, in London, as part of a new programme that aims to challenge the status quo, encouraging reflection and debate on our increasingly complex times.“It feels absolutely amazing to be having my first solo show,” says Joy. “I didn't think it would be possible for me to be an artist, let alone have a solo show only six months or so after graduating. I was over the moon when Morley Gallery got in touch. I know that I've been quite lucky with my situation which makes me appreciate the support I've received so much more.” Untitled by Joy Labinjo 2017 Identity, race and culture Joy’s paintings draw on her British-Nigerian heritage and examine the complex relationship between identity, race and culture. In Belonging, Labinjo invites the viewer to step into large-scale canvases saturated with colours, patterns and people, reconfigured from her family photograph albums. David Butler, a senior lecturer in Fine Art at Â鶹´«Ã½ said: “Joy Labinjo’s paintings are powerful in their imagery and content. The Woon Fellowship gives Joy a great opportunity to develop that strong voice. She is an artist who has already shown she will make very good use of that." Woon Art Prize Joy is the fifth winner of the Woon Art Prize, which was established by the Woon Foundation, made up of Northumbria graduate and keen art collector Mr Wee Teng Woon and his three brothers. “Winning the Woon Prize is an amazing experience which has given me a lot of visibility,” says Joy. “It's also been quite strange. I went to work the day after winning and it felt really surreal, very much like a pinch me moment.” Â鶹´«Ã½’s Fine Art Department is rated number one in the country by the Sunday Times 2018 University Guide. Belonging runs from 11 January to 10 February 2018 at , 61 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7HT. Latest News Local knowledge can improve early warnings of glacial lake floods Local knowledge, improved evacuation preparedness and resilient mobile phone-based communication channels can enhance Early Warning Systems to reduce loss of life during glacial lake outburst floods. published on: 3 August 2026 Funding boost moves landmark cancer research centre a step closer A £1.25 million grant from the Wolfson Foundation to Â鶹´«Ã½ has brought the Sir Bobby Robson Institute a significant step closer, giving a major boost to its fundraising campaign. published on: 3 August 2026 Statement on potential unauthorised data access Information about a potential unauthorised data access. published on: 30 July 2026 Facts and figures
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