News / 03 Mar 2025
Students selected for 'Ones to Watch' exhibition at Sunny Bank Mills
BA (Hons) Fine Art
BA (Hons) Visual Communication
Three BA (Hons) Fine Art students, and one BA (Hons) Visual Communication student have been selected to show their work in 'Ones to Watch' 2025 at Sunny Bank Mills.
The 'Ones to Watch' exhibition is an opportunity to exhibit in a professional gallery with extensive social media and website coverage and thousands of visitors annually.
Final year BA (Hons) Fine Art students Georgia Dalzel, Tomisi Loussala and Tafsia Dana, and first year BA (Hons) Visual Communication student Disha Gupta were all selected for the exhibition
Students have the opportunity to meet and network with other artists from across the region, and support on how to present, price and sell their work commercially.
Tomisi’s practice is based around food exportation/importation, food migration, consumerism and reproduction. Their work ‘Ship to Ridley Road Market’ is about the shipment process of goods (in this case lemons), to the UK. The use of metal cast lemons represents the welcoming of an exotic yet mundane fruit into the country, with the bronze showcasing the intricacies of lemon which are often overshadowed by its familiarity.
"I was really surprised when I got selected, [...] I am really happy about having my work be seen by a larger audience. My work involves fruit, specifically lemons and citrus fruits due to my more personal connection and natural gravitation to them, though now I’m drifting into other fruits with interesting histories."
Tomisi Loussala, BA (Hons) Fine Art student
Tafsia’s work revolves around the theme of memory and its malleability. Over time, memories often shift, blend, and fade, creating new versions of what once was. This concept of misremembering and how it shapes our understanding of the past is central to my compositions. Each piece reflects this process, where time moulds and shifts perception, just as our memories do.
"I’m truly honoured to be selected for Ones to Watch 2025. It feels like an incredible opportunity for emerging artists like myself to gain visibility and share our work with a wider audience. This platform is invaluable in helping to nurture our growth and further our creative journeys. The recognition feels like a moment to reflect on the path I’ve taken and the direction I’m heading, knowing that this chance is a springboard to even greater possibilities.”
Tafsia Muzib, BA (Hons) Fine Art student
With a foundation in visual storytelling, Disha’s work explores issues of identity, history, and connection by combining mythology, symbolism, and cultural traditions. Disha uses digital and mixed media approaches, blending textures and pictures, to produce immersive, stimulating works. ‘Cycles of Connection’ explores the unending cycle of existence, life, death, and rebirth, as found in Egyptian mythology, utilising symbolism and layered imagery.
"I am incredibly grateful to have been selected for this exhibition at Sunny Bank Mills. It’s an amazing opportunity to share my work in such a respected space and to exhibit alongside so many talented artists. Being part of a showcase that celebrates diverse creative voices is truly an honour, and I’m excited for people to engage with ‘Cycles of Connection’ and the themes it explores."
Disha Gupta, BA (Hons) Visual Communication student
'Ones to Watch' is exhibited from 1 March to 27 April 2025 at Sunny Bank Mills, Farsley. Work from Leeds Arts University alumni is also on display alongside our current students.