Graduate Jennifer Quinn Huck brings large-scale public artwork to Manchester’s First Street

Jennifer was selected for the First Street Public Art Award from this year’s MADE IT artists. Organised by artist-led organisation Short Supply, MADE IT is the North West Graduate Art Prize, which supports emerging artists as they move from art school into professional practice.

Seven of Jennifer’s original postcard sized screenprints have been enlarged to almost 2.5 metres wide and installed on public seating structures in Tony Wilson Place, outside HOME.

Drawing on language from an invented AI manifesto, the works borrow the bold visual language of advertising to explore themes of community, technology and human connection. Despite their increased scale, the enlarged prints retain the textures and imperfections of the original screenprinting process.

Reflecting on her time at Manchester School of Art and seeing her work presented in public space, Jennifer said: “Studying Fine Art and Art History at Manchester School of Art allowed me time and space to engage with contemporary art practices, provided me with technical guidance, and supported me in navigating the transition from art school into professional practice. The incredible people I met while studying have had the greatest positive impact on my practice, confidence, and artistic ambition.

“This opportunity with Short Supply and First Street to show my WE, US, TOGETHER work in a large-scale public exhibition in Manchester has been exciting, particularly as a way to understand how a professional commission comes together. Seeing my screenprinted postcards evolve into public artworks as part of the landscape and day-to-day lives of people in Manchester is incredible, and I hope it will invite conversations about community, belonging, and physical presence in the face of digital isolation.”

The commission was developed by Short Supply in partnership with First Street, offering an emerging artist a paid opportunity to take their practice beyond the gallery and reach new audiences.

Mollie and Bek Balshaw, co-founders of Short Supply, said: “What stood out about Jennifer’s work was how naturally it belonged in public space. These small, handmade prints borrow the visual language of advertising, but ask us to think about connection and community. We could see the potential for that shift in scale. Creating paid opportunities for graduates to test ambitious ideas is exactly what we want MADE IT to do.”

Founded in 2019, Short Supply supports emerging artists through exhibitions, paid opportunities and professional development. Its annual MADE IT Graduate Art Prize aims to support artists as they make the transition from art school into professional practice.

The MADE IT 2026 exhibition continues at The Whitaker in Rawtenstall until 13 December 2026. Find out more about the exhibition and this year’s artists at shortsupply.org/made-it-2026.

Visit the installation
Jennifer’s artworks are installed in Tony Wilson Place, outside HOME, Manchester, M15 4FN, and will remain on display until January 2027.

The outdoor installation is free to visit, with no tickets or booking required.

The First Street Public Art Award is supported by First Street, MADE IT’s Headline Public Art Partner, with The Whitaker as exhibition partner. Photography taken by Alan Murphy and supplied by Short Supply.