Studio Culture

During November the School of Design was proud to host Studio Culture - a celebration of the fashion illustrator Gary Kaye and three other supporting illustrators, Ann Marie Kirkbride, Tracy Turnbull and Kathryn McKelvey.  The exhibition showcased the work of graduates and lecturers at Northumbria highlighting the importance and legacy of ‘studio culture’ loosely defined to be the tradition of passing down the skills of draughtsmanship, use of media and technique in a practice based environment. The exhibition proposed an interesting perspective on the ‘new technologies versus traditional craft approaches’ debate from four Northumbria fashion graduates/lecturers who have excelled in one or other of these areas.

Gary Kaye is a graduate of the Fashion BA (Hons) programme and was a lecturer there from 1989 to 1991.  After leaving Northumbria to develop his commercial career, he moved to London where his illustrative originality and talent began to be recognised. His work appeared in a profusion of fashion forecasting publications including the fashion bibles of Textile View and Viewpoint as well as mainstream fashion magazines; Elle, Marie Claire and Tatler.  His witty hand crafted illustrations set in their stylised landscapes presented a humorous vision of fashion in the 1990's and early 2000's that has influenced disciplines such as fashion advertising, graphic communication and illustration. 

We are currently looking to tour Studio Culture and exhibit at a London gallery in early 2012.  Details will be announced in our What's On section as soon as details are confirmed.