2014 Staedtler Yen Art Awards Finalists

2 014 F I N A L I S T S

After much deliberation we’re pleased to announce the...

2014 staEdtler YEN Female Art Award finalists (in alphabetical order)

Sarah Atkinson

Self Portrait

Priscilla Bourne Grace Blake

Cat Lady

Nu Tryptic; “3hrs”, “18hrs” and “9 hrs”

Penelope Boyd Phoebe Boyle

D a y T r i p p i n ’ i n Ve r s a i l l e s

Evie Cahir

Midnight Growth

Elly Carroll Meredith Earls

Meat Fruit

Commonplace Magic

Penny Ferguson Niki Fisher

After

Slowpoke

Chet Faker Low Ego

Camila De Gregorio Georgia Hill Hana Hoogedeure

Birds I

Now is Near Soda Mountain Epic

Jasmina Krupic T h e

Journey of the Flexible Line: Ta k i n g y o u r H o m e w i t h y o u

Rachael McCallum

Lime Trumpet

Claudia Nicholson

S i To m a s e l A g u a d e N e s h u y a ( O n c e y o u H a v e Ta s t e d t h e Wa t e r o f N e s h u y a ) P a r t 1 o f 3

Ellen Porteus Rosie Turner Anna Vincent Zoe Olivia Young

Mani

Wo l f B o y Horizons

Frank Prihoda, the King of Thredbo

yenmag.net

Sarah Atkinson Self Portrait This piece is oil on canvas. The objects chosen are from my past and present. It includes my grandmother’s kitchen utensils and button collection, string used in my garden, my grandfather’s lids of his many jars he would keep to put bits and pieces in and found objects on my way to the art studio (the bark). Shadow plays an important part in this work as does sculpture as composition.

About the Artist I started painting in my grandfather’s shed. He was a landscape artist who taught me how to use oils and it has been my preferred medium since then. I opened a business called Lilliane Wilde which celebrates my love of handmade items and recently returned to oil paintings with this piece that examines the connection between people and objects.

Priscilla Bourne Cat Lady Part of Paper Trail. In this piece from a series of ink on paper drawings, I take stereotypical examples of women’s roles, responsibilities and prospects and interpret them in a humorous way. Many of these whimsical works depict a literal version of a concept, revealing the absurdity of these labels.

About the Artist Priscilla is a Sydney based emerging artist and curator. She was responsible for Ray Hughes Gallery’s 2011 exhibition, ‘6 (young) artists’, a survey of some of the more interesting and thoughtful artists of the next generation in this town, of which she is certainly one. rayhughesgallery.com/contemporary-australian/priscillabourne/2013-new-work

Grace Blake Nu Tryptic; “3hrs”, “18hrs” and “9 hrs” Digitally generated 3D collage, printed on metallic photo paper and intended to be framed behind colour-tinted perspex.

This work examines basic compositional properties; space, movement, contrast. The series was produced after a yearlong investigation into abstract, objectless art bringing my drawing into a new pictorial space. Inspired by Russian avant-garde, internet art and digital technologies.

About the Artist I am a drawer foremost. Drawing is a way to make sense of the world and examine possibilities upon a plain. Mark making, composition and geometry are the devices I use over diverse mediums, with an interest in subverting perspective and physics.

Traditional methods inform explorations in industrial technology.

I attempt to push the conventions of display, to deconstruct the expectations of 2D art. gracekblake.blogspot.com.au

Penelope Boyd After ‘After’ is part of a series, ‘Little Memories’, exploring the subtle psychological tensions of quiet and sparse childhood moments.

About the Artist I am an artist working with acrylic glazes on board. I paint portraits and figurative works, currently focused on children. I have been painting since 2007. penelopeboyd.com

Phoebe Boyle D a y T r i p p i n ’ i n Ve r s a i l l e s Graphite pencil on paper. From a series of drawings of paper busts exploring the relationship between contemporary artists and predetermined cultural hierarchies. phoebeboyle.com

Evie Cahir Midnight Growth

The subject of ‘Midnight Growth’ is a celebration of nocturnal creativity and nature captured in the form of a still-life study. Late nights alone in my bedroom studying my succulent collection drove me to capture the quiet scene.

Watercolor and graphite on Stonehenge Paper. Watercolour as medium was selected because the water-colour washes reflect the delicate nature of light.

About the Artist

Evie Cahir, b. Ballarat, 1992. Lives and works in Melbourne. Bachelor of Illustration at NMIT, 2013. The natural order and aesthetic of personal belongings is inspiring.

Cahir’s first solo exhibition, held at the age of 18, ‘All Many of Faces’ at RedBrick Gallery in 2011, Ballarat, then ‘Patchbox’, ElseWhere Gallery, Rome and ‘Through the Looking Glass’, Mirus Gallery, San Francisco, 2014. eviecahir.tumblr.com

Elly Carroll Meat Fruit The artwork is a still life. The intention of the work is to represent abstract elements of traditional subjects of the still life. I was hoping to in some way represent the space between traditional thought and static image ingestion and a common imposed personal narrative that is projected onto objects and subjects that are represented within traditional still life.

About the Artist Elly graduated from The National Art School in 2006 and has been a practising artist since. Elly is currently studying a masters at The Victorian College of the Arts. Elly is inspired by themes of psychological narrative, space and isolation. Elly creates work that addresses and questions the relationship between the physical form and our own suspended psychological narrative. ellycarroll.com

Meredith Earls Commonplace magic I’m interested in making the things that can’t be seen visible.

What could the space between look like?

About the Artist I am a Melbourne based graphic designer and illustrator.

I use mixed media and collage as a way of taking things apart, re-arranging them and making something new. meredithearls.com

Penny Ferguson Slowpoke Slowpoke is the what these call their casual hanging out together time.

About the Artist I am the designer and illustrator behind jewellery and homewares label Min Pin. I believe in compassionate design and love making and drawing weird things. minpindesign.com

Niki Fisher Chet Faker Low Ego I had the opportunity to meet Nick Murphy (Chet Faker) earlier this year to work on his portrait. His music is full of intensity and has a rawness that makes him so unique, I really wanted to capture this in his portrait.

About the Artist I am a graphic designer and have been practising art since I could hold a pencil upright. I am fascinated by the different stories that are told visually and the intensity that can be created through colour, light and texture. nikifisher.org

Camila De Gregorio Birds I This illustration was created to raise awareness about the major threats affecting bird species. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) at least 12% of the world’s bird species are threatened with extinction, and an additional 8% are near threatened. This means one of every five bird species could be extinct in the next 50-80 years.

About the Artist I am a Chilean graphic designer based in Sydney. My work aims to communicate complex socially conscious ideas and stories through handmade art-toys and illustrations. I am inspired by daily conversations and situations I feel should be addressed. I have previously exhibited my work at The Corner Cooperative and Kinokuniya’s Wedge Gallery. eggpicnic.com

Georgia Hill Now is Near ‘Now is Near’ further develops my personal aesthetic of bold yet detailed graphic artwork. Using ink on water-colour paper, this work depicts a highly stylised lock up of type and texture, as if what is ‘now’ and present is rich yet repetitive, almost stuck in its own loop of ‘now, then, soon, when’ - a personal reflection found in phrases, textures and the sense of time and cycles.

About the Artist My name is Georgia Hill, and I’m a typographer, illustrator and artist working from Sydney, Australia. My practice focuses on experimental typography, language, time and pattern. Working with paint, pens and ink, I generate creative, high-impact visuals for installations, murals and exhibitions, including solo and group shows in Australia at He Made She Made, M2 Gallery, Black Penny and The Tate. georgiahill.com.au

Hana Hoogedeure Soda Mountain Epic Our experience of play or imagination as an adult is dependent on props and theatre. I am interested in the sculptural qualities of theatrical props and toys, and the importance of imagination and illusion in order for these artefacts to function.

About the Artist Hana Hoogedeure is a Sydney based artist working across sculpture and installation. She is currently undertaking her honours year in a Bachelor of Visual Arts at the Sydney College of the Arts. She has exhibited frequently over the last two years at Dedspace Gallery, Verge Gallery, Newtown Hub Gallery and was selected last year for Mosman’s Festival of Sculpture and Installation, In Situ 2013. hanahoogedeure.com.au

Jasmina Krupic The Journey of the Flexible Line: Ta k i n g y o u r H o m e w i t h y o u This piece is from a growing collection of works exploring notions of nomadic tendencies through jewellery as portable environments. This adaptable, flexible line can be arranged in a variety of ways. The components held together with linen rope are made with linen canvas, gouache, acrylic, fine liner, ink. In a way this is a wearable drawing.

About the Artist I am a visual artist based in Melbourne. Currently completing a Bachelor of Fine Art, Object Based Practice at RMIT. My practice is multifaceted involving drawing, jewellery making, sculpture, installation, photography and video. I follow an intuitive and experimental approach to my work. jasminakrupic.wordpress.com

Rachael McCallum Lime Trumpet This piece is a special experiment where I sought to create a kilncast window of glaze in the centre of the piece. I salvaged the clay from the discard of a fellow artist. It’s a kind of Dada found object. My art began with the premise that (in physics) there is no such thing as 2D, as every trace requires a molecule, and so I exaggerate this fact using chemical molecules in glaze to create colour.

About the Artist Allow me to introduce myself: I am a suburban Sydney girl who never really got the colouring book out of her system.

I can’t help it, I just love colour. It’s from my mother’s side, she is the arty one. My dad is an engineer and he helps out with the scientific aspect of my approach to life which, when combined, always results in a colourful logic of actionreaction. unicornspew.blogspot.com.au

Claudia Nicholson S i To m a s e l A g u a d e N e s h u y a ( O n c e y o u H a v e Ta s t e d t h e Wa t e r of Neshuya) Part 1 of 3 Nicholson conflates traditional South American and pre-Columbian artmaking practices with her own in an attempt to insert herself back into Latin American history, calling into question ideas of cultural identity and authenticity. This work was created whilst participating in an artist residency in the Peruvian Amazon. It was created using traditional Shipibo Conibo textile processes.

About the Artist Claudia Nicholson was born in Bogota, Colombia. She is currently undertaking a Masters (Research) degree at the College of Fine Arts. In 2013 she exhibited at 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art as part of its emerging artist program and participated in the Centro Selva Artist residency in Peru. She is currently an artist in residence at Firstdraft Gallery and an associated artist of Gaffa Gallery. claudianicholson.com

Ellen Porteus Mani

Mani is a visual exploration of a typical female ritual. The repeated motif of hands painting one another’s nails communicates harmony and solidarity. It was inspired by and is a celebration of unashamed girlie-ness.

About the Artist Ellen Porteus is a graphic designer and illustrator based in Sydney. She graduated with a Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication (Hons) in 2013, and has been creating since she could pick up a crayon. Ellen has a love for the bright, bold and irreverent, and her work often explores feminine ideas and aesthetics. ellenporteus.com

Rosie Turner Wo l f B o y

WOLF BOY is a semi self-portrait that came from a dream of standing in a midnight garden, everything lit by the moonlight. I draw everything by hand, working quickly with pencil and ink. WOLF BOY has been digitally coloured for a flat, out-of-body feel. I’m a total whore for images but mostly I’m inspired by pornography style, Baroque/Rococo painting and ’80s B-grade horror films - a mashup!

About the Artist My practice is a crush of illustration, painting and ceramics.

I have a strong foundation in drawing which is important to my own ideas of visual storytelling. I love playing with weird, sexy and ugly ideas and seeing if I can balance something pretty with something repulsive. I have exhibited my paintings and photography in Newcastle, Sydney and Hong Kong. Someday I’d like to be big in Japan. rosieturnerx.tumblr.com

Anna Vincent Horizons

I am fascinated by the outline and the divide that high rise commission housing flats create within the urban environment. Their dramatic appearance is emphasised by the behaviour that takes place within, however there is a particular unique solace that wraps itself around these buildings.

About the Artist I am currently studying fine arts in Melbourne. My work is a constant investigation into the eye’s depiction of light, time, perspective and space, how these factors overlap and repeat on one another and how the experience can be manipulated by the combination and adjustment of such elements. Subject matter is drawn from both influences of my upbringing in the country and now existing in the city.

Zoe Olivia Young Frank Prihoda, the King of Thredbo

This is a portrait of Frank Prihoda. The King of Thredbo, he is 93 and works in the Thredbo Museum. He is of Czech origin. This work is inspired by afternoon tea in Frank’s trinket-filled home in Thredbo. I recorded both the dialogue between us and a movie of the painting as it evolved. I like to think of it as a “Living Portrait”. You can view the movie of its creation on my website.

About the Artist Hi, I’m Zoe Olivia Young. It took me fifteen years to complete my BFA at the National Art School in Darlinghurst - my peers became my lecturers by the end of it! My path weaved in and out of the Darlinghurst campus and throughout studios in Amsterdam, Phuket, Bangkok, Bondi and my hometown of Crackenback. I am a painter and lover of the still life and portrait.

zoeoliviayoung.com