The 2018 Redlands Konica Minolta Art Prize has announced 19 pairings of contemporary Australian and New Zealand artists, selected by Guest Curator and artist Nike Savvas, to be presented in an annual exhibition at Sydney’s National Art School Gallery from 15 March to 12 May, 2018.
Richard Bell | Megan Cope
Vivienne Binns OAM | Jacob Potter
Vicente Butron | Gemma Avery
Richard Dunn | Adrian McDonald
Sarah Goffman | Connie Anthes
Agatha Gothe-Snape | Aodhan Madden
Gail Hastings | Dan McCabe
Tim Johnson | Hayley Megan French
Lindy Lee | Kath Fries
Stephen Little | Joe Wilson and Chanelle Collier
Jonny Niesche | Mason Kimber
John Nixon | Lucina Lane
Rose Nolan | Renee Cosgrave
Kerrie Poliness | Melissa Deerson
Elizabeth Pulie | Zoe Marni-Robertson
Huseyin Sami | Consuelo Cavaniglia
David Serisier | Oliver Wagner
Jenny Watson | Annie O’Rourke
Hilarie Mais | Conor O’Shea

Vivienne Binns, Urban Graph, 2017, acrylic on canvas, 130 x 165cm. Courtesy the artist and Sutton Projects, Melbourne
Savvas commented on her chosen groupings: ‘I have selected artists whose practices evidence discriminating, uncompromising and highly individualist approaches to art making. In a cultural climate beset by hype, hits, corporatisation and swinging social agency, the next iteration of this exhibition titled Extreme Prejudice seeks to highlight the personal and critical imperatives that belie and drive such single-minded work.’
‘In 2018,’ says Savvas, ‘the Redlands Konica Minolta Art Prize reflects on a range of material, perceptual, conceptual, political, strategic and subjective developmental approaches with which to address painting. Painting – both as a classifying term and a discipline – continues to provoke serious and pertinent questions about the foundations on which past and current conventions are based. It has the potential to question beliefs and, as history has shown, to alter paradigms. With such a diverse body of work and studio methodologies I believe this exhibition will present an opportunity both timely and rare for challenge and reflection.’

Diena Georgetti, The Humanity of Construction Painting, 2017, acrylic on canvas, framed. Courtesy the artist and The Commercial, Sydney
The two winning artworks in the established and emerging categories will become part of Redlands School’s permanent art collection which includes works by past winners: Diena Georgetti (2017), Pat Brassington (2016), Mikala Dwyer (2015), Vernon Ah Kee (2014), Callum Morton (2013), Ben Quilty (2012), Rodney Pople (2006), Lindy Lee (1998), Gordon Bennett (1997) and Imants Tillers (1996).
The winners of the established and emerging artist awards will be announced on Wednesday 21 March 2018.