Italian artist inspires College students’ award-winning exhibition

Students from the Pathway 2 programme at Abingdon & Witney College visited Blenheim Palace in early December last year to see the works of Michelangelo Pistoletto, and it was here that the ideas and inspiration for their own art exhibition blossomed.

From Pistoletto’s first introspective self-portraits to ambitious projects based on community and collective participation, the show at Blenheim (which ran until New Year’s Eve) exemplified the creative diversity of Italy’s most celebrated living artist.

Fast-forward to April and three student representatives, along with the Principal Di Batchelor and staff, found themselves accepting a group prize at the Blenheim Palace Heritage Awards for their responsive pieces, an annual event that is hosted by Her Grace The Duchess of Marlborough.

At the end of each year, the Duchess chooses a number of individual and group prize winners from the displayed works in the Education Room at Blenheim. Clearly, the students’ take on Pistoletto’s famous “Dog at the Mirror”, “Venus of the Rags”, and many other pieces had made a winning impression.

The students were delighted with the recognition and proud staff were on-hand to watch them accept the award.

Jeannie Donald-McKim, a tutor from the Pathway programme, said:

“The students worked so hard to make this project come to life and we’re all very proud of what they have achieved. They are an example to all the students who come on to our Pathway programme that’s there no limit to how far they can go, and that we are here to support them every step of the way.”

The artworks are now on display at the Abingdon campus and continue to make curious staff and students take a closer look.