Keeper of the Royal Academy awarded honorary degree
Painter, printmaker and Keeper of the Royal Academy, Eileen Cooper received the honorary degree of Doctor of Arts from Southampton Solent University today (Thursday 21 November), in recognition of her outstanding contribution to art.
Eileen Cooper was born in 1953 in Glossop, near Manchester. She studied fine art at Goldsmith's College and Royal College of Art, London (1971 - 1977).
She is one of the major British figurative artists to emerge during the mid 1980s. Solo exhibitions include Castlefield Art Gallery, Manchester (1986), Artsite, Bath (1987), Benjamin Rhodes Gallery, London (1988/90/94), and a touring show of graphics (1996-97) to Darlington, Harrogate and Scarborough Art Galleries.
Her1999 exhibition Second Skin, curated by Art First, also toured nationally. In 2000 Dulwich Picture Gallery in collaboration with Art First, hosted a major exhibition of Cooper's paintings and drawings, Raw Material, based on a two year residency during which she worked with the collection. She continues to hold regular solo shows at Art First, London, and in 2001 she was elected Royal Academician.
In October 2011, Eileen Cooper became the first woman to be appointed Keeper of the Royal Academy since its inception in 1768. Her duties include the running of the Royal Academy Schools.
Eileen Cooper has participated in significant national and international shows on British Art including: The Image as Catalyst, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford (1984); Conversations, Arts Council Touring exhibition (1987); The New British Painting, Contemporary Arts Centre, Cincinnati and tour (1988); Picturing People, Arts Council exhibition touring to Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Singapore (1989); The Outsider: British Figuration Now, Palazzo Vecchio, Florence (1990); Innocence and Experience, South Bank Centre and Manchester City Art Gallery touring exhibition to Manchester, Hull, Nottingham and Glasgow City Art Galleries (1992); and more recently Encounters ( 2012) in Singapore and Qatar.
There will be a retrospective of her drawings in the Royal Academy Fine Rooms in 2014. Next year sees the publication of a major monograph about her work.
On receiving her honorary award from Southampton Solent University Chancellor, Admiral The Right Honourable Lord West of Spithead, Eileen Cooper said: "I am delighted to be here today and especially to share in this graduation ceremony. It's very inspiring to look around and see this successful group of new graduates.
Speaking to the assembled graduates she said: "Please remember it is not a race. Of course it helps to have self-confidence, self-belief, determination and ambition but there are many ways to make a successful life and to fulfil one's own potential. Finding a way forward is the key, and on your own terms. Be inspired by what life offers and the opportunity for lifelong learning through ones work."
The university will be awarding honorary degrees to academics and professionals who have made an outstanding contribution in their field of expertise during its annual graduation ceremonies which will take place at Southampton Guildhall from 18-22 November 2013.
More than 2500 students will be graduating with degrees and professional qualifications in subject areas ranging from journalism to sport science, fashion to yacht-design, and business management to TV and film production.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT THE MEDIA OFFICE ON 023 8031 9079 or press.office@solent.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About Southampton Solent University
Southampton Solent University offers more than 23,000 students over 200 qualifications ranging from HND to PhD, in subjects such as maritime education and training, fashion and design, media and television, music, health, sport and leisure, business, IT and technology. The university was awarded the 2013 Quality Assurance kitemark for quality and standards of teaching and learning. Solent was voted one of the most creative universities in the UK in a Which? University 2013 poll of students.
Tags:
