The winner of the churchie national emerging art prize (‘the churchie’) 2015, with non-acquisitive prize money of $15,000 sponsored by Brand + Slater Architects, Brisbane, is Michaela Gleave for her artwork ‘Waiting for Time (7 Hour Confetti Work)’ 2014. The Commendation Prizes, receiving $1,000 each, were awarded to Sha Sarwari for his artwork ‘National Icon’ 2014 and Tai Snaith for her artwork ‘Portrait of a Sunday Painter’ 2015.

The Judge, Rachel Kent (Chief Curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney) said “An award like ‘the churchie’ is a great snapshot of what’s going on creatively today around the country. This particular award focuses on artists in the early stages of their careers; to be selected for the award and exhibited at the Griffith University Art Gallery is itself an achievement, and a great position to be in for an artist at this career point”.

At the Official Opening + Prize Announcement of ‘the churchie’ 2015, held at the Griffith University Art Gallery (GUAG) on 31 July 2015 – the Headmaster of Churchie, Dr Alan Campbell, announced that ‘the churchie’, now in its 28th year, would enter into a new partnership with Queensland University of Technology Art Museum from 2016 and looked forward to continuing ‘the churchie’s alliance with another prestigious educational institution. Dr Campbell extended the School and Committee’s thanks to Griffith Artworks for their collegiality, professionalism, and dedication to this exhibition over these past 6 years, extending special thanks to the two curators over those years – Mr Simon Wright, now Assistant Director of Learning and Public Engagement at GOMA and Ms Naomi Evans, the current Curator of Griffith Artworks – noting that ‘the churchie’ has been in very good hands.

Griffith Artworks Director, Angela Goddard said “We have enjoyed tremendously working with Churchie over the past six years. We are proud of the way Griffith Artworks has helped guide ‘the churchie’ to grow from strength to strength.  We wish Churchie all the best in their new partnership with our friends at QUT and look forward to seeing more great works by emerging Australian artists in the 2016 prize.”

All 38 artworks from the churchie national emerging art prize are on sale and will be on show to the public at the Griffith University Art Gallery (GUAG) until 29 August.

Image: Michaela Gleave, Waiting for Time (7 Hour Confetti Work) 2014, video performance. Courtesy of the artist and Anna Pappas Gallery, Melbourne.