Finalists announced for the 2015 Redlands Konica Minolta art prize

With an Archibald prize winner, two artists from the Venice Biennale and previous winners of the Redlands Art Prize, this year’s 2015 Redlands Konica Minolta Art Prize promises to be a nail biter in the lead up to the announcement at the National Art School from 26 March until 23 May.

Twenty-two of Australia’s most respected contemporary artists have been selected by guest curator Tim Johnson – his second year in the role and himself a previous winner in 1999. The selected artists include Hany Armanious, Marion Borgelt, Sophie Cape, Bindi Cole, Lucas Davidson, Dennis Del Favero, Mikala Dwyer, Maria Fernanda Cardosa, Fiona Foley, Shaun Gladwell, Helga Groves, Claire Healy & Sean Cordiero, Narelle Jubelin, Geoff Kleem, Fiona Lowry, Archie Moore, Rod Moss, Raquel Ormella, Hiromi Tango, Jenny Watson and Joshua Yeldham.

Mr Johnson commented on his selection process for the established artists: “For the 2015 Redlands Konica Minolta art prize I have invited a diverse range of artists, in order to reflect the wide spectrum of art being made here in Australia. As an artist myself, I feel artists themselves know what they do best and should have the freedom to participate on their own terms.”

“There is so much exciting and original work around today that finding artists has not been difficult. Interestingly, there are some Australian artists receiving international recognition who still have a fairly low profile here that I’ve sought to include. A lot of the most interesting new work being made is aimed directly at its audience and involves artists confronting, questioning and surprising the viewer,” added Mr Johnson

This strong contingent of contemporary artists have submitted a single recent work to contend for one of the two prizes. The main award for established artists is the Redlands Konica Minolta Art Prize, valued at $25,000 and sponsored by Konica Minolta for the third consecutive year. The Emerging Artist Prize is valued at $10,000 and sponsored for the first time in 2015 by the Glenburn Pastoral Company.

The Redlands Konica Minolta Art Prize was established in 1996, however what distinguishes this event is the focus to encourage mentoring relationships between different generations of established and emerging artists. The Prize’s unique model requires each selected artist to nominate one emerging contemporary artist to participate in the exhibition.

Prize winners will be awarded at an opening event at the Gallery, presented on the evening of 25 March 2015.

2015 Redlands Konica Minolta Art Prize
26 March – 23 May 2015
National Art School Gallery
Darlinghurst, Sydney

Images courtesy the artists and the Redlands Konica Minolta Art Prize