Distinguished artists and visionaries to receive Honorary Professorships

Norwich University of the Arts will award Honorary Professorships to five outstanding individuals next week as part of its summer graduation ceremonies.

Among the esteemed recipients are Ingrid Pollard, a renowned fine art photographer and integral figure in the British Black arts movement; Jay-Ann Lopez, the founder and CEO of Black Girl Gamers, dedicated to promoting diversity in the gaming industry; and Gush Mundae, the innovative founder of Bulletproof. Joining this illustrious group are Robert Diament and Russell Tovey, who are being honoured for their remarkable careers in the arts.

They will receive their Honorary Professorships during the University’s graduation ceremonies alongside over 900 students receiving their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at Carrow Road on 11 and 12 July 2023.

Dr Ingrid Pollard, Fine Art Photographer – Honorary Professor For Services to Contemporary Art Practice

Image credit: Caro Smart

Ingrid Pollard is one of the leading figures in contemporary British art. She is an accomplished photographer whose 30-year career has queried how images are staged and constructed. Working in portraiture, often with a range of performers as well as her own archives, Pollard explores how the body is interpreted, through characteristics of gender, sexuality, race, class, beauty and through photographic histories and theories.

In 2019, she received the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award for Artists and in 2020, the Freelands Award with MK gallery. This exhibit was nominated for the Turner Prize in 2022. Pollard’s work is held in public collections including Tate and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Jay-Ann Lopez, Founder and CEO of Black Girl Gamers Gamers – Honorary Professor For Services to Leadership in the Games Industry and Advocacy for Black Women Gamers

Image credit: Michael Stuart Daley

Jay-Ann Lopez is the award-winning founder of Black Girl Gamers, a member and judge for BAFTA, and a speaker and entrepreneur. 

Black Girl Gamers is a popular and influential community-powered business that advocates for diversity and inclusion and heightening Black Women’s voices. It partners with brands to increase Black Women’s equity in the industry via talent brokering, consulting, innovative marketing solutions, events and content.

Jay-Ann also co-produces Gamer Girls Night In, the first Women and Non-Binary focused event combining gaming, beauty and fashion.

Gush Mundae, Founder of Bulletproof – Honorary Professor For Services to Leadership in the Communications Design Industry

Image credit: Bulletproof

Gush Mundae is the founder of Bulletproof, the largest global, independent, brand agency in the world, headquartered in London with eight global studios. He has worked with an inspirational variety of clients from start-ups through to global giants such as Mondelēz International, Diageo, Booking.com and the IoC.

Leaving India at the age of five, Gush moved to London with his family, where he grew up on a diet of Hip Hop, PK Rippers, Tacchini and Krylon, his love of street art leading him to study Graphic Design and Typography at the behest of an art teacher. After graduating in a recession and getting some agency work under his belt, Gush felt compelled to create a new agency with creativity at its heart and an entrepreneurial, fearless spirit.

Robert Diament – Honorary Professor For Services to the Presentation and Understanding of Contemporary Art Practice

Image credit: Elissa Cray

Robert Diament is Director of the Carl Freedman Gallery and Counter Editions, a company that produces prints and multiples by leading contemporary artists such as Tracey Emin, David Shrigley and Martin Creed. Before working in art, he was the lead singer of electro-pop band Temposhark.

He co-hosts the hit podcast Talk Art with actor Russell Tovey, which has over 6 million downloads. Founded in 2018, they’ve published over 245 one-hour interviews with leading artists, curators & gallerists, and even occasionally their talented friends from other industries like acting, music and journalism. They have authored two Talk Art books, including the Sunday Times Bestseller ‘Everything you wanted to know about contemporary art but were afraid to ask’.

Russell Tovey – Honorary Professor For Services to Acting and Advocating for Contemporary Art

Image credit: Jason Dimmock

With an extensive background in film, television and theatre, award winning actor Russell Tovey can most recently be seen starring as Patrick Read in Ryan Murphy’s eleventh season of the FX horror anthology American Horror Story. He was also nominated for a Critic’s Choice Award for best supporting actor for his role in the critically acclaimed BBC/HBO Drama series Years and Years written by Russell T. Davies alongside Emma Thompson and Jessica Hynes.

Apart from acting, Russell is also a passionate art collector, “art geek”, and co-hosts art podcast, Talk Art, with friend and gallerist Robert Diament. Russell was also on the judging panel of the 2021 Turner Prize and has curated multiple shows with emerging and established artists internationally. This year he is WeTransfer’s arts curator – recently completing a national tour of Blue Now – performing live Derek Jarmans final film “Blue” as one of the first of many engagements in his curatorial steer.

An Honorary Professorship is a major accolade, awarded by Norwich University of the Arts in recognition of outstanding achievement and distinction in a field or activity consonant with the University’s mission. Previous recipients include textile designer Orla Kiely OBE, Director of the National Portrait Gallery Sandy Nairn CBE, and Phil Carter, an international award-winning graphic designer.

View all Honorary Awards