SUMMER OPEN EXHIBITION 25

The MADE Summer Open was established to bring attention and focus to professional artists in Wales, and Cardiff in particular through creating a winner as chosen by a jury of gallerists, curators and previous winners who will award a winner's prize of a solo show in MADE's gallery programme the following year.

The Summer art prize has successfully contributed to raising the profiles of former winners Zena Blackwell, Lucia Jones, Kate Shooter and Ellie Young as well as creating attention and interest from the art viewing arena within Wales and beyond. It acknowledges that serious talent exists and can thrive outside London.

Cafodd Arddangosfa Agored yr Haf MADE ei sefydlu i dynnu sylw a ffocws at artistiaid proffesiynol yng Nghymru, ac yng Nghaerdydd yn benodol, drwy greu enillydd sy’n cael eu dewis gan banel artist wedi ei ddewis/dewis gan artistiaid sydd eisioes wedi derbyn y wobr gan guraduron MADE, yn codi’r bar mewn sawl ffordd.

Mae’r wobr wedi llwyddo i helpu gyrfaoedd egin-artistiaid megis Zena Blackwell, Lucia Jones, Kate Shooter a Ellie Young yn ogystal â denu sylw a chreu diddordeb ymysg yr arena celf yng Nghymru a thu hwnt. Mae’n cydnabod bod dawn yn bodoli ac yn ffynu y tu allan i Lundain.

We are delighted to announce that the recipient of the 2025 M.A.D.E. Solo Art Prize is Vivian Ross-Smith.

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland and raised in Fair Isle, Shetland, Vivian holds a BA(Hons) from Gray’s School of Art (2013) and a Masters with Distinction from Glasgow School of Art (2020). She was the inaugural Freelands Studio Fellow at Swansea College of Art (2023).

Vivian is interested in accessible ways of engaging with the art world and as an extension to her practice works as an educator, facilitator and producer, often working with rural and artist-led organisations. Vivian currently lectures at UWE Bristol, is part of South Wales performance collective, SGÔR, and works from Swansea Studios.

Vivian will use this time and support to develop site-specific and performance-led work exploring dry-stone walls in South Wales - also known as a 'dyke' in her native Scots. Using practices of queering ecology and subverting previously harmful slang, this new body of work will frame dykes as sites of regeneration, community, ecological resilience, and care.

Through a sensual, tactile engagement with care, place and community, Vivian Ross-Smith creates performance, installation, textiles, and painting. Her touchable, often wearable work, explores notions of comfort, pleasure, and disgust in the body. Vivian draws on queering practices, using this as a methodology to remain curious, reclaim harmful pasts and imagine gentle futures.

Vivian Ross-Smith's Website

We are delighted to announce that the recipient of the 2025 M.A.D.E. Solo Art Prize is Vivian Ross-Smith.

MAKERS - ARTISTS - DESIGNERS - ENTERPRISE

M.A.D.E. 2025 Solo Art Prize Announcement

Aidan Myers

Aidan Myers

Aidan Myers

Aidan Myers

Aidan Myers

Ali Street

Aidan Myers

Ali Street

Beth Leahy

Carol Hiles

Ali Street

Billy Kang

Carol Hiles

Carol Hiles

Carol Hiles

Carol Hiles

Carol Hiles

Charlotte Vickery

Charlotte Vickery

Charlotte Vickery

Daniel Lazenby

Charlotte Vickery

Charlotte Vickery

Eleanor Whiteman

Charlotte Vickery

Eleanor Whiteman

Felix Akulw

Helen Belton

Eleanor Whiteman

Helen Belton

Helen Belton

Helen Belton

Hilary Lomas

Helen Belton

Helen Belton

JAMES MOORE

Abi Birkinshaw

Abi Birkinshaw

Abi Birkinshaw

Abi Birkinshaw

Abi Birkinshaw

JAMES VASSALLO

Abi Birkinshaw

JAMES VASSALLO

Mia Roberts

Lily O’Connell

Lily O’Connell

Lily O’Connell

Lily O’Connell

Lily O’Connell

Philip Watkins

Lily O’Connell

Philip Watkins

Philippa Brown

Philippa Brown

Philip Watkins

Ray Powell

Philippa Brown

Ruth McLees

Ruth McLees

Philippa Brown

Ruth McLees

Sophie Potter

Sophie Potter

Sophie Potter

Sarah Garvey

Sophie Potter

Sophie Potter

Tess Gray

Sophie Potter

Tracy Harris

Tracy Harris

Vivian Ross-Smith

Tracy Harris

Vivian Ross-Smith

Vivian Ross-Smith

Vivian Ross-Smith

Vivian Ross-Smith