Artist interview: Alivia Hoy, Batsford Prize 2023 Fine Art Winner

Welcome to our blog series where we meet the winners of the Batsford Prize 2023 (Theme: At Peace). The first interview is with fine art student Alivia Hoy, who was crowned winner of the Fine Art category, as well as the overall winner across the categories with her piece Mattress.

Alivia is studying Fine Art at Loughborough University and her winning creation Mattress is an acrylic painting on a baby’s cot mattress depicting an older man. This work shows a peaceful record of time, reflecting on the moments interacted with the mattress from birth to old age.

About her work, competition judge Vaughan Grylls said:

‘Not only was it a striking piece of work, it also said something about being at peace, which was our theme this year, and it was also very touching’.

Hi Alivia, can you tell us what your piece is about? Can you tell us what initially influenced it and what it means to you?

Mattress acts as a record if time, reflecting on the lived experiences that we share within the contexts of a bed, from birth to old age. This is supported through the blank watch on the subject’s wrist, showing the non-existence of time, or perhaps lack of time left.

After being inspired and intrigued by iconic artists such as Robert Rauschenberg, and Tracey Emin, who have infamously used mattresses as a subject in their work, I wanted my portrait to embed itself within the fabric as the subject and object become one.

Ultimately, I intended this piece to be a peaceful display of the vulnerable and honest connections we share with our bed.

What mediums or materials did you decide to use, and why?

The materials I used were acrylic paint on a baby’s cot mattress. I chose a mattress as my canvas as it emphasised the meaning/theme behind the piece. Rather than it being a mass-produced object, the mattress has been repurposed into an agent of subjectivity.

What made you want to study fine art?

I initially began my education at university studying a Maths degree, however I realised that I mainly chose this as it was what people expected of me. As a result, I decided to change course and study Fine Art as this is where my true passion has always and continues to lie.

What are your biggest artistic inspirations? Are there other artists who you admire or who inspire you?

Hayley Tompkins is an artist that inspires my work, similarly she paints onto found objects, turning ‘things’ into works of art themselves. Gerhard Richter is an artist I admire as he was able to mediate memory in his portrait photo-paintings where he obscures an objects quality through the medium of paint.

How would you describe your style? Would you say that it has changed over time?

I am highly interested in portraiture and concerned with encapsulating a likeness and sense of identity in my work, hence I tend to follow a more realism style. Over time my work has definitely got more challenging as I seek to find the next object to paint on, to create a multifaceted portrait which reveals more than solely the likeness of an individual.

What does winning the Batsford Prize mean to you?

I was thrilled and grateful to have won the Batsford prize not only is it a huge achievement, but also is a reminder to me that choosing to study art was the best decision I’ve made.

After you have completed your studies, what do you see yourself doing next?

Once I finish my degree, I hope to explore teaching art, as well as continuing as a practicing artist and exhibiting my work in wider communities.

Check out more of Alivia’s work on her Instagram.

ABOUT THE BATSFORD PRIZE

The Batsford Prize is an annual award open for undergraduate and postgraduate students in the fields of applied art and textiles, fine art and illustration. View the winners and runners up of this year’s award here. The theme for the Batsford Prize 2024 will be revealed shortly…

Interviews for the other winning categories are available to read here:

Artist Interview: Megan Du, Batsford Prize 2023 Illustration Winner
Artist Interview: Pia Elliot, Batsford Prize 2023 – Applied Arts and Textiles Winner
Artist Interview: Forest Xiao, Batsford Prize 2023 – Children’s Illustration Winner
Artist Interview: Ziyi Wang, Batsford Prize 2023 – Chairman’s Prize Winner