The Churchie National Emerging Art Prize is on again at the QUT Art Museum. Emerging Brisbane artist, Caroline Gasteen, has won the esteemed prize for her series of three oil paintings. An exhibition of all finalists’ work is on display at QUT Art Museum until 4 November.
Over the last 30 years, ‘the churchie’ has become one of Australia’s most exciting art prizes for upcoming artists and each year gives us a peek at what’s to come in the future of Australia’s contemporary art scene.
“The churchie provides a unique opportunity and support for unknown and emerging practitioners,” said Kevin Wilson, Curator, QUT Art Museum. “These artists have had the chance to work collaboratively with curators, and be seen by people who are looking at art generally. This show has a great potential to put emerging artists on the map.”
The prize aims to offer tangible support, nurturing, and encouragement to a new cohort of emerging artists. This is particularly important, as like so many prizes, ‘the churchie’ has become embedded as a rite of passage for artists, as they move through their career to more substantial roles and opportunities, creating and innovating in Australia and abroad.
From more than 1000 submitted artworks, 35 emerging artists were selected as finalists for ‘the churchie’ in 2018. Finalists were selected by a panel comprising Dr Chris Bennie, visual artist and lecturer at QCA Griffith University; Leah King-Smith, visual artist and lecturer in the School of Creative Practice QUT; Vicky Leighton, Head of Art at Anglican Church Grammar School; and Katherine Dionysius, Curatorial Assistant, QUT Art Museum.
Caroline Gasteen, winner of the churchie 2018, is a Brisbane-based artist whose practice focuses on the two-dimensional image as object. Her style draws on modernism and abstraction, and she has a particular interest in colour relationships and dimensionality. Her winning series of three small oil paintings is the latest iteration of her creative process: paintings of photos of models made from photos.
Visitors who attend the exhibition at QUT Art Museum will be able to cast a vote for the inaugural People’s Choice Award, awarded after the exhibition closes.