Top Tips from Ally Fallon, New Contemporaries 2025/2026 Artist

Artist Ally Fallon reflects on what he has learnt during the New Contemporaries programme this year and shares some tips for other early career artists.

The greatest New Contemporaries highlight was meeting all the other artists for the first time during the workshops in London. As a painter, sometimes you can disconnect from life outside of the solitary space of the studio. It was really special to be brought out of that space and to spend a few days in each other’s company. Coming together once again at the opening was a celebratory moment, when it otherwise could have been a little daunting. The programme has such a great energy about it, everyone is so generous and committed, both in the team and among the artists.

During the New Contemporaries programme, I have learnt that outside of your own practice, the most valuable thing to an artist is their network. I think the word ‘network’ can come with some negative connotations, perhaps suggesting surface level connections, but that doesn’t apply here. It can definitely be daunting at first – being at art events as an early career artist will always be a bit uncomfortable. But it’s a really great opportunity to meet other artists and establish meaningful and lasting relationships with other artists and art lovers.

What’s most inspiring about New Contemporaries is the energy and effort that I have seen people put in to pave the way for new artists. The community around the programme spans far beyond participating artists and I have found the willingness of people to invest time and support into artists a refreshing and hopeful counterbalance to the sometimes difficult realities of being an artist.

I think the best advice for any artist is to turn up everyday, put in the hours and to resist the pressure to make work that you think people will like, or that they may expect you to make.

In terms of three top tips, I don’t think there's anything special you need to do as an artist compared to anyone else trying to achieve a goal. In my experience, being consistent is key. Establishing a routine and sticking to it, as with most things, will bring you closer to what it is that you want.

So, I would say my tips are slightly boring but I believe they are true and have worked well for me:

1. Be in the studio/making work every day that you can. Especially when you don’t want to, I have found these days to often be the most productive.
2. Read widely.
3. Stay healthy.