One Month Later: Celebrating the Visual Art Open 2025 Finalist Exhibition

Amy Quinn
40 minutes ago
4 min read

The Visual Art Open 2025 Finalist Exhibition took place at The Minster Building in October, proudly sponsored by the Visual Artists Association (VAA), uniting artists, the VAO25 Judges, collectors, and members of the wider creative community in a celebration of artistic achievement. The event highlighted emerging and established talent across all mediums, providing a prestigious platform to showcase the creativity, innovation, and vision of this year’s entrants.

The VIP Evening was a highlight of the exhibition, bringing together members of the art community, joined by the Visual Art Open’s judges and wider partners from Mall Galleries, Artfinder, The Londonist, and The Telegraph, to celebrate creativity, talent, and artistic achievement, with the winners announced during the event. Congratulations to this year’s prize-winners:

Overall Winner Sculpture Category

Li Hao – Pop Star

Painting, Mixed Media & Printmaking Winner

Chiedu Okonta – We No Go Wear Hoodie for House

Photography & Digital Art Winner

Jane Oliveira – Enclosed

Drawing & Illustration Winner

Samuel Owusu Achiaw – Sankofa: The Future Lingers in the Past

Art Educator Winner

Francesca Busca – Ping (The Ping of a Pin on a Pebble in a Pond)

Student Artist Winner

Yixue Yang – Eternal Flux: The Dao of Becoming

Reflecting on his win, Chiedu Okonta said:

“The resources provided have been invaluable in advancing my career. Winning this award has also inspired me to keep creating and to look for new opportunities. As someone who submitted a socio-political painting, it feels wonderful to see my work recognised and its message reaching a broader audience.”

This sentiment will resonate with many artists navigating the challenges and rewards of creative practice. The exhibition showcased the incredible talent of all VAO25 finalists, including everyone who exhibited, as well as one of the VAA IESP Winners and the RSA New Artist Award Winner.

On Friday, Visual Art Open Painting, Mixed Media & Printmaking Finalist Daniel Freaker delivered an engaging talk about his artistic practice. He shared insights into his creative techniques, experimentation, and the challenges of navigating the fear of “ruining” an artwork, reflecting: “Every painting that I create goes through the stages, ‘Wow, this looks amazing. Oh my god, it needs burning,’ and then we come back to the beginning of amazing", a familiar experience for anyone immersed in creative practice.

Visual Art Open 2025 Judges and Creative Duo Adwoa Botchey and Solomon Adebiyi of Adeche Atelier's talk was a highlight of the event, offering an in-depth look at their artistic journey, collaborations with cultural organisations, and the central role of storytelling in their practice. They reflected on how narrative informs their creative process, how partnerships with cultural institutions have shaped their work, and the ways in which contemporary artists can engage audiences through meaningful, thought-provoking projects.

Curator, Karen van Hoey Smith led a curatorial walk-through, providing insider perspectives on the twenty-six artworks showcased at the exhibition, the stories behind the works, and the artistic approaches of the VAO25 finalists. Several artists contributed to the discussion, including Daniel Freaker, Dorota Łapa-Maik, and Sue Gascoyne, giving attendees a unique opportunity to hear directly from the creators about their work.

Partners played an important role in supporting the exhibition and the artists. The Visual Artists Association, is a UK-based organisation dedicated to nurturing and promoting visual artists at all stages of their careers. Through initiatives such as mentorship, professional development, and exhibition opportunities, the VAA provides a vital platform for emerging and established artists alike to showcase their work, connect with peers, and engage with wider audiences. Their support helps strengthen the broader visual arts community, ensuring that creativity, innovation, and artistic ambition continue to flourish.

“The VAO 2025 celebrates the extraordinary diversity and ambition that define contemporary visual art today,” said Shirley-Ann O’Neill, VAA Director. “This year’s finalists and winners embody imagination, resilience, and the courage to create with authenticity. We are sincerely grateful to everyone who entered, to our judges for their expertise, and to our sponsors and partners for their invaluable support in making this platform possible. The VAO remains proud to champion artists at every stage of their journey, fostering a space where creativity and passion can truly thrive.”

FOLLOW.ART gifted exhibiting artists the Pro Nexus Cards, empowering them to receive direct support from their audiences and stay connected long after the event. While Li Hao, the VAO25 Overall Winner, received a one-year free subscription to Nexus Card Pro.

"At FOLLOW.ART, we see Support My Practice as a simple yet powerful way to connect artists and audiences. During the VAO Finalist Exhibition, visitors were able to contribute to the artists’ work through direct gestures of support that help sustain creative practice. Patronage is no longer exclusive to collectors; it has become a shared experience that invites everyone to take part in the creative process. We’re glad to partner with such a forward-looking organisation as the Visual Artists Association, which embraces digital tools that make connection and support in the art world more accessible." - Evelīna Gorbačova | Head of Digital Development at FOLLOW.ART

CBRE generously hosted the exhibition at The Minster Building, with the team going above and beyond to welcome the creative community together in their iconic space, making the exhibition a standout moment for the UK’s contemporary art scene.

The Visual Art Open is excited to announce it's return to The Minster Building for the 2026 Finalist Exhibition, promising another showcase of creativity, community, and contemporary art in this landmark venue. The 11th edition of the award will feature a prestigious judging panel of renowned artists, writers, critics, professors, collectors, and curators, ensuring submissions are evaluated with the highest standards of artistic excellence.

With a £10,000 prize fund and extensive professional support, the Visual Art Open continues to offer career-enhancing opportunities, national exposure, and meaningful recognition for emerging and established artists worldwide.

The Visual Art Open 2026 is now open for submissions. Learn more at visualartopen.com.

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