Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) has announced a creative partnership with leading South Coast law firm, Lester Aldridge, to showcase and support local emerging artists by displaying graduate artwork in its offices.
Under a 12-month rental model, selected pieces from AUB’s recent BA (Hons) Fine Art and MA Painting graduates will adorn the walls of Lester Aldridge’s Bournemouth headquarters. The collaboration offers staff and clients an evolving collection of original contemporary art while providing recent graduates with direct financial support, visibility, and a professional platform as they launch their creative careers.
Representatives from Lester Aldridge toured AUB’s Undergraduate Summer Shows on campus, as well as the MA Painting exhibition at Lighthouse, Poole, to select the final curated collection.
The resulting display highlights the extraordinary range and technical diversity of AUB’s emerging talent, spanning intricate pointillism and large-scale surrealist canvases to expressive abstract painting and 3D sculptural forms.
From intimate investigations of human identity to bold visual storytelling, the collection brings a dynamic variety of artistic mediums, textures and concepts into Lester Aldridge's daily working environment.
Among those works selected is Do I Look Like I Feel? by BA (Hons) Fine Art graduate, Madeleine Iyengar, a piece that recently claimed first place in the Over-18s category at the prestigious Dorset Art Prize. Comprising 49 individual pointillism drawing squares that form a single, larger image, it represents roughly 200 hours of meticulous work exploring contrast, duality and identity.
"Having my work selected by Lester Aldridge as I graduated was such an incredible way to step into my professional career," says Madeleine. "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.”
Joining Madeleine’s work at the law firm is Tigers Don't Change Their Stripes by fellow BA (Hons) Fine Art graduate, Imani King. The 160cm x 200cm acrylic canvas depicts a clambering amalgamation of vivid tigers stretching upwards to explore complex family relationships, emotional expectation and personal boundaries.
“The piece explores symbolic imagery, scale, and emotional weight, and I am incredibly thankful to see it displayed at Lester Aldridge," Imani comments. "I hope my work inspires both those who work at the firm and their clients to achieve their goals and explore the boundaries of their own lives.”
Rachael Lee, MA Painting graduate adds, “I’ve always believed that painting asks us to slow down and create space for curiosity, memory, and imagination. It’s a real privilege to know that these works will continue their lives beyond the exhibition walls, becoming part of the everyday environment where people work, meet, and think at Lester Aldridge."
Also from the MA Painting course was Nigel Shooter, whose selected works were two 3D sculptural forms.
“After 55 years of making marine art, I hit a wall and needed a new direction," he explains. "The MA course allowed me to bridge my background as an engineer with 3D abstract sculpture, creating shapes and colours that draw on my worldly experiences.
“Having my work displayed by a prestigious firm right as I graduate is the ultimate validation. Abstract art has the power to embody the feeling and energy of an organisation, and to achieve a professional showcase like this at the very start of this new chapter is fantastic.”
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."
The installation was revealed to Lester Aldridge on Friday 7 August with plans to highlight individual artist profiles and host client networking events around the collection over the coming year.
