Artist’s star soars to new heights
Iarts & books editor n 2017, artist Imogen Taylor described receiving the McCahon House residency as the biggest opportunity of her career. Doubtless, it’s an accolade for which Taylor will always be grateful but, last night, she topped that achievement when she was named the paramount award winner of the 2018 Wallace Art Award.
Now in their 27th year, the awards are the richest in New Zealand and have helped prominent artists such as Bill Hammond, Fatu Feu’u, Elizabeth Thompson, Gregor Kregar, Sara Hughes, Judy Millar and Andre´ Hemer further their careers.
Taylor has won a six month residency at the International Studio and Curatorial Program in New York.
Taylor, 32, said she was shocked and grateful.
“I’m ready to do something like this in my career.”
Judges Linda Tyler, Mark Braunias and Joyce Campbell described her 2018 acrylic on hessian painting, Refusal to Yield, as combining references to art movements Bauhaus, Cubism and Modernism with assured handling of colour and composition. They said it made for a bold, memorable and deeply informed painting.
Other award winners included Peata Larkin, Andrea du Chatenier, Emma Fitts, Lucy Meyle and Richard Maloy who received residencies in
iThe winners’ exhibition will be at Pah Homestead, until November 4 before touring to Porirua, Nelson, Christchurch and Morrinsville.
Switzerland, US, Russia and Italy.
Taylor’s work was chosen from 515 entries including painting, sculpture, audio-visual, print, photography, drawing and interdisciplinary work. Of those, 83 were selected as finalists for the Award Winners and Travelling Finalists exhibition which will head for the first time to the South Island after Auckland and Porirua.
As well as offering artists monetary prizes and chances to broaden their experience, the awards are an essential part of the Wallace Art Trust Collection’s growth with a selection of winning work added to its 9000-strong holdings.
Meanwhile, official figures from the Auckland Art Fair show visitor numbers increased 10 per cent to 10,150 and around $7.5 million of art was sold at the four-day May event. That’s more than double the amount spent at the 2016 fair.
HFor a full list of winners go to nzherald.co.nz