Artist Bedwyr Williams spoke of his delight at receiving a Glyndŵr University Wrexham Fellowship as “a proud Clwyd boy”.
Originally from Old Colwyn, Bedwyr is recognised as one of the UK’s top contemporary artists and was “honoured” to receive the accolade yesterday (Thursday) in the William Aston Hall.
“When I went to school, Old Colwyn, which is where I grew up, and Wrexham, where I would come on holiday, were all in the same county – Clwyd,” he said.
“When I left Wales and went to study overseas the counties changed, but I’ll always be a proud Clwyd boy and am very, very honoured to receive this fellowship.”
Bedwyr is known for creating dystopian scenarios in which ordinary people come face to face with the extreme or unexpected.
This saw him complete a unique treble at the National Eisteddfod in Wrexham in 2011, winning the gold medal, the Ifor Davies Prize and the People’s Prize at the Visual Arts Exhibition.
He represented Wales at the Venice Biennale in 2013, and was this year shortlisted for the Jarman Award. In 2016, Bedwyr is to have a solo show in the curve gallery in London’s Barbican Centre.
Paying tribute to him, Estelle Thompson, Head of Media, Arts and Design, said: “Such is his standing in Welsh art circles he is quite simply known as ‘Bedwyr’.
“His mischievous creations include an art gallery curator made entirely out of cake and an exhibition featuring 45 pairs of size 13 shoes – viewers were even invited to try them on!”
Estelle added: “His work is recognised internationally and is greatly in demand; he has won many prizes and awards and we are proud to present him with an honorary fellowship from Glyndŵr University Wrexham.”
Students picking-up qualifications on the day were from the Schools of Computing, Postgraduate Business, and Education, where environment leader Peter Davies OBE was honoured with a fellowship for his work as Wales’ first Sustainable Futures Commissioner and chair of the Climate Change Commission for Wales in 2011.
Today’s (Friday) ceremonies will be for students graduating in Engineering, Media, Arts and Design, Psychology, and Sport Science. Sir John T Houghton, former Director General of the Meteorological Office and chair of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, and Wrexham’s James Wharton, ex-soldier and bestselling author of Out in the Army: My Life as a Gay Soldier, are to be presented with honorary fellowships.
For more information visit www.glyndwr.ac.uk
