Art and Media Students Take Inspiration from London’s Iconic Galleries

Art and Media students explored creativity and inspiration on 21st October with a visit to two of London’s most iconic art spaces, the National Portrait Gallery and the National Gallery.

The visit was truly valuable for our the students who are beginning work on their new project, Inspirational People. Exploring how different artists represent people and stories through their work gave everyone plenty of ideas and creative sparks to bring back to the College.

At the National Portrait Gallery, students discovered a range of artists with powerful personal stories. Among them was South African artist Ravelle Pillay, who draws inspiration from old family photographs to explore memory and heritage. They also explored Polish Romany artist Malgorza Mirga-Tas, whose beautiful textile collages celebrate Romany culture and identity.

Students then continued to the National Gallery, where they saw some of the most well-known recognisable masterpieces in the world, including Henri Rousseau’s Surprised! and Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers.

As well as taking in the incredible art, everyone enjoyed exploring the surrounding Central London, soaking up the atmosphere and sharing ideas along the way. It was a day full of creativity, culture, and inspiration, a perfect reminder of how art connects people across time, place, and experience.