November 12, 2019

Graduate Winner of Miró Grant

Alba Urquía, who graduated from GMD in 2019, has won a training grant to take part in a course at Joan Miró’s printmaking studios in 2020. The Fundació Miró Mallorca offers just two scholarships annually to artists interested in printmaking techniques and printed editions to enable them to attend one of the courses each summer. 
Alba describes her experience of visiting the Foundation in Mallorca for the award presentation:
Friday 11 October was the awards ceremony and all winners were invited to Miró Mallorca Foundation to give a presentation of our work. We were also shown the actual workshops where Miró used to paint, print and do ceramics. Seeing those spaces with all his references and inspiration hanging on the walls was a thrilling experience.
My award – Pilar Juncosa and Sotheby’s Training Grant – consists of a scholarship to use the workshops of Joan Miró during one of their summer courses. The grant also covers all my accommodation and transport expenses.
Unlike the other winners, I wasn’t chosen because of a particular project proposal but because of all the work entailed in my artistic practice (two ‘printed’ animations, an entirely screen-printed dissertation book and a series of illustrations around semiotics and symbolism).
I also had the chance to talk to some of the other winners which was very inspiring and motivating. I believe being granted such recognition right after leaving college is a sign that I am in the right path, so all I need to do is keep working.  Now, more than ever, I can’t wait for next summer to come.

Richard Roberts, Print and Screen Technician, worked closely with Alba and supported her in realising her course outcomes in the print workshops at LCC:

Alba had a natural curiosity for all the different techniques that students are able to do in the LCC printrooms. She used Stone lithography, drypoint, etching, linocut and screenprint in her Graphic and Media Design briefs to excellent effect. She exemplified the process of ‘thinking through making’ and understood the characteristics of each technique and how it could be used effectively in her work.