Meet the Judges for the VAA Artist of the Year 2025

Meet this Years Judges: Celebrating the voices shaping tomorrow’s art landscape

As the VAA Artist of the Year Awards return for 2025, we are honoured to introduce this year’s judging panel - a diverse group of leading figures from across the contemporary art world. Representing a wealth of experience across curation, criticism, education, publishing, and professional practice, this panel brings integrity, insight, and critical rigour to the selection process.

Together, these judges offer a well-rounded and global perspective on visual art today. They are champions of innovation, emerging talent, and cultural discourse - and are united by a shared commitment to supporting artists at every stage of their careers.

Let’s take a closer look at the individuals who will be evaluating the entries and ultimately selecting the 2025 Artist of the Year.

Jessica Cerasi

Curator | Author | Educator

Jessica Cerasi is a highly respected curator and writer whose work has had a global impact on how contemporary art is shared and understood. Over the past fifteen years, she has developed major exhibitions and shaped public programmes at institutions such as the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the UK Government Art Collection, and the Hayward Gallery in London. Her curatorial voice also played a role in two of the art world’s most prestigious international showcases - the 2016 Biennale of Sydney and the 2019 Venice Biennale.

Jessica is also an accomplished author, having written two influential and accessible books: Who’s Afraid of Contemporary Art? and Contemporary Art Decoded. These texts have demystified art for thousands, bridging the gap between academic art theory and public appreciation. She teaches regularly at Tate Modern, offering sold-out courses that mix deep scholarship with a passion for engaging storytelling. Holding degrees from UCL and the Courtauld Institute, she brings a rare combination of scholarly rigour and public engagement to this year’s panel.

Bea Last

Artist | Mentor | Educator

A practicing artist, educator, and mentor, Bea Last brings a unique blend of hands-on creative practice and support for others into her work.

Her multidisciplinary approach explores themes of place, identity, and material through innovative mark-making and installation. Bea’s work has been exhibited widely across the UK and internationally, including her selection as a finalist for the Laguna Arte Prize in Venice and the Aesthetica Art Prize in York.

In 2024, Bea was named VAA Artist of the Year, as well as receiving the Artist of the Year Award from D&G Life magazine, sponsored by The Crichton Trust, in recognition of her significant contributions to the arts in Scotland. A long-time mentor and facilitator of arts education, she works closely with UpLand Arts, where she leads their Visual Arts Studio Portfolio Preparation Course to help young artists prepare for art school applications. With experience judging panels in collaboration with Creative Scotland, Bea brings an empathetic and experienced artist’s eye to the panel.

Stephen Snoddy

Gallery Director | Painter | Educator

A major figure in the UK gallery landscape, Stephen Snoddy has built an exceptional career as a gallery director and curator. He is currently the Director of The New Art Gallery Walsall, where he continues to shape innovative programming and major exhibitions. His career spans significant leadership roles at Arnolfini Gallery, Cornerhouse Manchester, Southampton City Art Gallery, and the internationally renowned BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art.

Stephen has worked closely with some of the world’s most important contemporary artists,

including Rachel Whiteread, Chris Ofili, and John Baldessari. He is also a painter in his own right - returning to practice in 2013, his work has since been shown in Brussels, London, and Southampton, and acquired by public and private collections across Europe, China, and the USA. An Honorary Member of the Royal Ulster Academy and former Visiting Professor at Manchester School of Art, Stephen brings institutional leadership, curatorial expertise, and creative insight to the judging process.

Elizabeth Fullerton

Art Critic | Author | Researcher

Elizabeth Fullerton is a leading voice in international art criticism and cultural journalism. Her bylines include some of the most prestigious arts publications in the world - The New York Times, The Guardian, Art Monthly, ARTnews, Art in America, and Art Quarterly. She has spent her career exploring the social and political dimensions of art, and is known for her depth of analysis and sharp, engaging commentary.

She is the author of Artrage! The Story of the BritArt Revolution, a widely praised chronicle of one of the UK’s most iconic art movements.

In addition to her writing, she co-hosts the podcast Art Fictions, where she and her guests discuss the narratives and imaginative worlds behind contemporary artworks. Elizabeth is also pursuing a PhD at Birkbeck, University of London, examining how art intersects with cultural identity and public discourse. Her broad, interdisciplinary perspective will be key in identifying work that resonates deeply and intellectually.

Mimi Spendriff

Curator | Gallery Manager

Mimi Spendriff is a curator with a strong connection to London’s vibrant, independent art scene. As the Gallery Manager of Print Club London, she oversees exhibitions, artist relations, and curates high-impact drops featuring emerging and established screenprint artists. She plays a vital role in supporting and promoting the studio’s creative community, helping collectors discover fresh, original works.

Previously, Mimi curated collections for Artfinder, an online marketplace for independent artists, and worked in artist liaison roles at Art Republic, one of the UK’s leading contemporary print galleries.

She has also worked at galleries representing major names like Billy Childish. With a First-Class Honours degree in Photography from the University of the West of England, she brings both critical and commercial awareness to her work. Her eye for emerging talent and ability to connect audiences with contemporary art make her a valuable voice on this year’s panel.

Gemma Peppé

Founder | Arts Fundraiser | Campaign Director

In 2014, Gemma Peppé launched Art on a Postcard, a pioneering initiative that has since raised over £2 million for charitable causes through miniature artworks by world-class artists. Created to support The Hepatitis C Trust, the project now collaborates with independent curators and multiple charities, including Choose Love, War Child UK, and St Wilfrid’s Hospice.

Under Gemma’s leadership, Art on a Postcard has attracted works from icons such as Marina Abramović, Paula Rego, and Peter Blake, alongside exciting newcomers like Antonia Showering and Victoria Cantons. Her background as a music agent and campaign manager—working with public figures like Lily Allen and Boy George - has equipped her with unique skills in outreach, visibility, and creative activism. In 2024, she introduced Sound and Vision, an ambitious new fundraising platform that blends music and visual art. Her deep connection to both the creative and charity sectors ensures that she brings a powerful, people-first perspective to the judging process.

Tabish Khan

Art Critic | Podcaster | Public Advocate for the Arts

Few figures are as actively involved in London’s arts ecosystem as Tabish Khan. Known for his energetic engagement with galleries large and small, he reviews hundreds of exhibitions a year and is a regular contributor to Londonist and FAD.

He has also written for Artsy, Elephant, Stir World, and the New York Observer. His critical practice is rooted in accessibility - making art enjoyable and understandable for all audiences.

Tabish is co-host of the podcast The Good, The Bad and The Arty, where he discusses contemporary art with curiosity, humour, and insight. He is a trustee at City & Guilds of London Art School and Discerning Eye, and an honorary trustee of ArtCan, a non-profit organisation supporting artists through exhibitions and opportunities. A respected speaker and panellist, Tabish brings a vital public-facing and grassroots-informed voice to this year’s judging panel.

Supporting Visionary Talent in 2025

This year’s panel reflects a deep and broad understanding of the art world across its institutions, markets, educational spaces, and underground scenes. Each judge is committed not only to excellence, but to progress, inclusion, and the development of emerging creative voices.

By entering the VAA Artist of the Year Awards 2025, artists will be seen and celebrated by a jury who understands what it means to be a maker today and who are ready to elevate those shaping the future of visual culture.

Submissions are now open. Don’t miss this opportunity to share your work with industry leaders, and be part of a growing legacy of artistic excellence.