Bea Last, a Scottish artist, weaves a narrative of raw beauty and profound meaning through her unique creative practice. Currently based in the picturesque landscapes of Scotland, Last’s work is a testament to her dedication to the process and her ability to turn recycled, repurposed, found, salvaged, or gifted materials into what she eloquently refers to as “sculptural drawing.” Her creations, abstract in form, serve as windows into both inner and outer landscapes, challenging prevailing perceptions and sparking dialogues on topics as weighty as conflict, humanitarianism, and the looming climate crises. Last’s art is a silent rebellion, a visual exploration that goes beyond the aesthetic, delving into the very fabric of our existence.
This November, Bea Last brings her unique vision to the 19th edition of the Arte Laguna Prize in Venice, where she is a finalist among over 200 artists. Running from November 16th through December 8th, this exhibition at the historic Arsenale Nord in Venice represents an international showcase of contemporary art talent, covering diverse forms including painting, sculpture, video art, and more. Last’s inclusion here is more than a career milestone; it’s an opportunity to further elevate the issues central to her work, creating connections that transcend language and culture.
The Arte Laguna Prize, organized by the Cultural Association MoCA, is known for its commitment to championing artists worldwide. Since 2006, it has provided emerging and established artists alike with a platform to be noticed by art enthusiasts, collectors, and a prestigious jury composed of respected figures from the art world. The prize aims not only to spotlight artists but also to foster cross-cultural dialogues, a goal that aligns closely with Last’s own artistic mission. Her participation situates her within a global context, surrounded by peers from across the world, each presenting their work in a shared space dedicated to contemporary discourse.
Bea Last’s entry into this revered exhibition space introduces her practice to a wider audience, inviting them to engage with her sculptural drawings on a personal and emotional level. Her use of found materials is both an aesthetic choice and an ethical stance, underscoring her deep concern for sustainability and the climate crisis. The raw, unpolished materials she works with become symbolic, representing the overlooked, discarded, and undervalued aspects of society and the environment. Her art resists neat categorization, making room for interpretation and allowing each viewer to project their own meanings onto her pieces. The Arte Laguna Prize’s setting in Venice, a city long known for its own balance of beauty and fragility, creates a fitting backdrop for Last’s exploration of delicate, pressing themes.
The exhibition of finalists at the Arsenale Nord is a vibrant landscape of diverse artistic perspectives. For Last, the dialogue created within this context amplifies her messages about conflict and humanitarian concerns. The materials she sculpts with become statements about renewal and resilience, an ethos she shares with the Arte Laguna Prize’s mission to innovate and uplift in the art world. Venice, an ever-shifting cultural epicenter, hosts this moment of artistic convergence, where Last’s work will stand alongside a range of global artworks in painting, sculpture, and digital media, all contributing to the conversation around art’s power to drive change.
In many ways, Last’s work embodies the spirit of Arte Laguna: she is a creative who values process, intention, and meaning, seamlessly aligning with the competition’s aim to democratize and diversify contemporary art. The prize has cultivated partnerships with foundations, museums, galleries, and art spaces globally, promoting artists in spaces traditionally reserved for more commercially established names. For Last, this presents an invaluable chance to bring her ideas into a larger conversation, one that could create tangible impact for her career and the causes her work supports.
Bea Last will attend the event, which adds a personal dimension to the exhibition. Engaging with attendees, jurors, and fellow artists face-to-face, she has the opportunity to expand on the purpose behind her creations. This kind of interaction adds a layer of richness, allowing Last to share the quiet but powerful themes woven into her art, where conversations can spark fresh perspectives and insights.
As the world of art shifts toward more conscious and inclusive frameworks, the Arte Laguna Prize exemplifies this movement. Bea Last’s work, with its emphasis on material and meaning, is an ideal fit for this event, where contemporary art is viewed not only as a decorative practice but also as a tool for cultural critique and social reflection. For those attending in Venice, her work will be an encounter with ideas that challenge the status quo, presented through a medium that insists on the value of what’s often dismissed or disregarded. Through her participation, Last will likely continue to engage with new audiences who find relevance and beauty in the voices she gives to her materials, pushing the conversation on climate, conflict, and humanity forward.
