SURREY.- Surrey based and internationally renowned ceramicist, Professor Magdalene Odundo has been named an Officer of the British Empire in the Queen’s birthday honours list.

Odundo is Professor of Ceramics at University College of the Creative Arts in Farnham, Surrey and a board member of The Lightbox gallery and museum in Woking, Surrey.

The award, for services to arts, recognises Odundo’s dedication to helping younger artists through her teaching as well as her commitment to projects such as The Lightbox.

The OBE follows the presentation to Odundo in January 2008 of an African Art Recognition Award by the Detroit Art Institute's Friends of African and African-American Art. This award recognised in particular her work with the British Council in establishing teaching exchanges between universities and art colleges in developing countries and their British equivalents.

“I am very enthusiastic about what I do and sharing my knowledge with others,” said Odundo. “In particular I am passionate about teaching young people and learning from their creativity. They really keep me going.”

As part of her promotion of artistic development, on Thursday 26 June Oduno will open the Surrey Open Art Exhibition 2008 at The Lightbox in Woking. The exhibition, which runs from 27 June until 10 August, is a showcase of the best entries to the Surrey Open Art Competition. It was established to encourage and promote artistic talent in the county. At the opening event Odundo will present the £500 Hutley Art Prize to the artist deemed by a panel of judges to have produced the best artwork.

To find out more about Magdalene Odundo’s work please visit her website at www.magdaleneodundo.com.