Edinburgh College of Art Transforms into City’s Largest Gallery for 2025 Graduate Show

Over 550 graduating students from Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) are showcasing their creativity this week as the college opens its doors to the public for its annual Graduate Show.

Opening today, the Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) Graduate Show 2025 transforms the college into Edinburgh’s biggest gallery space, offering visitors a unique glimpse into the next generation of artistic and design talent. The show runs until Friday 6 June, with works spanning a wide array of disciplines from sculpture and painting to architecture, music, animation, and performance.

Among the standout pieces is Tide and Temper, a calming glass and steel installation by sculpture student Kristel Bodensiek, and The Funeral, a striking conceptual work by Elena Gadd, featuring a wearable white sculptural ‘head’.

The show reflects ECA’s breadth of creative teaching. Work on display includes traditional fine art, architectural models, textile and jewellery design, film and digital media, and experimental music composition.

  • Sculpture student Kristel Bodensiek approaches her work Tide and Temper, a calming curtain made of glass and steel.
  • ECA student Elena Gadd wears a large white 'head' sculpture created as part her final showcase 'The Funeral'.
  • ECA graduate Katie Marsden poses with Lego kits she created deigned to help people with Down's Syndrome learn about consent.

Innovation meets impact

Many graduates have chosen to tackle contemporary social issues through their work. Graphic Design student Katie Marsden developed interactive LEGO kits designed to help people with Down’s Syndrome better understand and navigate concepts of consent. Working in collaboration with sex education specialists, the project aims to empower through accessible, hands-on learning tools.

Other highlights include:

  • Painting student Amy Mclean, whose delicate oil works draw on traditional tattoo motifs and 19th-century photography to explore attention and visual saturation in the digital age.
  • Maria McStay’s ceramic sculptures evoke coastal memories and the haunting influence of Louise Bourgeois.
  • Intermedia artist Marni Saunders, who challenges domestic conventions with uncanny installations of dirty basins and overflowing washing machine drums.

Technology and the future

Themes of technology, particularly artificial intelligence, also emerge across disciplines. Architecture graduate Ellie Wilkes reimagines data centres in response to the rise of AI, proposing new thermal and mechanical systems. Meanwhile, music student Laura Hamilton explores AI's ethical role in music therapy, influenced by the work of Edinburgh’s own Professor Shannon Vallor.

Platform for emerging talent

ECA Principal Professor Juan Cruz said the show celebrates the “incredible creative talent and ingenuity” of the graduating class.

Visitors can expect to encounter work that is not only visually striking but also intellectually stimulating and innovative. We have a strong history of shaping leading creative voices in the UK and beyond - this year is no exception.

Professor Juan Cruz Edinburgh College of Art Principal

The event also features a film and animation screening, as well as live performances from graduating music students throughout the week.

Plan your visit

  • Friday 30 May - Friday 6 June
  • 10am - 5pm daily (late opening until 8pm on Thursday 5 June)
  • Edinburgh College of Art, Lauriston Place
  • Free admission (Eventbrite booking encouraged but not required)

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