The finalists in the 2024 Rick Amor Drawing Award exhibition have been announced.
Art Almanac congratulates Kylie Blackley, Moira Burke, Carmel Byrne, Philip Cooper, Matthew Clarke, W H Chong, Yvonne East, Linda Fardoe, Vivien Gaston, Harry Hay, Ian Hay, Barbie Kjar, James Money, Susan Morse, Adam Nudelman, Catherine O’Donnell, Massimo Palombo, Ignacio Rojas, Claire Sheperd, Mary Tonkin, Caroline Walls, and Michelle Zuccolo.
Rick Amor, The Dog, 1990
The Award was established by artist Rick Amor to promote the practice of drawing in contemporary Australian art, noting that:
“This prize gives people one more reason to keep drawing on paper . . . the most direct and intimate expression of an artist’s sensibility.”
In its second iteration, the biennial and acquisitive award, offering $20,000 in prize money, attracted over 150 applications. One of the selected finalists will be awarded the overall prize for an outstanding original drawing, which will become part of the McClelland collection.
McClelland Director Lisa Byrne says the exhibition helps us see important aspects of contemporary art practice in a new light: “Drawing has traditionally been used for preparatory sketches and studies ahead of finished paintings or sculptures. This Award demonstrates the vibrancy of drawing practice as exciting media in its own right, full of invention and experimentation.
“Once again there was a terrific standard of drawing practice across a range of still life, abstract and conceptual. Of the 21 selected there is a strong diversity of approaches to drawing, from fluid, to controlled drawing practice, to disciplined and some freer suggestive ways of drawing.
“The exhibition represents an excellent opportunity to review the best of what’s happening right now in the field of drawing across Australia,” Byrne said.
An exhibition of finalists’ works will be held at McClelland, Langwarrin VIC 3910, from 30 March to 30 June 2024, with the winner announced on Sunday 21 April, and the Rick Amor Award People’s Choice Award announced the week commencing 1 July.
