Who painted Emergency?

Emergency was painted by Sadie Hennessy in 2010.

Where can I see Emergency?

Emergency is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

Emergency by Sadie Hennessy (2010) · Meaning & Museum

About this work

You can learn more about this kind of printmaking by looking up the technique of screenprint or visiting the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The painting is titled "Emergency" by Sadie Hennessy, created in 2010.

It was made as part of a Graduate Prize program. The program awards a residency to graduates from major London colleges. Sadie Hennessy was a winner in 2010, and her print is now part of a collection.

You can learn more about this kind of printmaking by looking up the technique of screenprint or visiting the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Overview

In 2010, Sadie Hennessy, a graduate of Central Saint Martins, was awarded the Jealous Print Studio Graduate Prize, which granted her a fully funded residency to produce a limited-edition screenprint. The prize, established in 2009, selects one graduate annually from each of London’s eight leading art colleges. Hennessy’s resulting work, titled 'Emergency,' was added to the Victoria and Albert Museum’s permanent print collection as part of a curated archive of all prize-winning editions.

Subject & Meaning

The print 'Emergency' engages with themes of urgency and disruption, evoking fragmented communication and institutional tension. Its visual language draws from found imagery and typographic distortion, suggesting the instability of information during moments of crisis. The title implies a call for attention, though the work avoids literal narrative, instead inviting interpretation through layered textures and abrupt compositional shifts.

Technique & Style

Created using screenprinting, the work employs multiple layered inks to build depth and contrast. Hennessy manipulated stencils to produce irregular edges and overlapping forms, emphasizing the handmade quality of the medium. The palette is restrained, relying on monochrome tones with selective color accents, reinforcing the sense of urgency while maintaining a deliberate, controlled aesthetic rooted in printmaking traditions.

History & Provenance

The print was produced during Hennessy’s residency at Jealous Print Studio in 2010, following her selection as the Central Saint Martins awardee. As part of the prize’s conditions, the edition was donated to the Victoria and Albert Museum’s print collection, where it remains accessible for study. All editions from the prize’s inaugural year onward have been similarly archived, forming a continuous record of emerging British printmakers.

Context

The Jealous Graduate Prize emerged during a period of renewed interest in printmaking as a contemporary art form, offering emerging artists access to professional studio resources. London’s major art colleges were increasingly emphasizing interdisciplinary practice, and this initiative provided a platform for print to engage with broader conceptual concerns. Hennessy’s inclusion reflects a shift toward integrating technical precision with critical inquiry in graduate work.

Legacy

The ongoing donation of prize editions to the V&A has established a significant archive of early-career British printmaking. Hennessy’s 'Emergency' contributes to this record as an example of how screenprinting can convey complex ideas through material restraint. The project continues to support emerging artists, ensuring that printmaking remains a vital, documented practice within contemporary art education and institutional collections.