The People's Choice
A young first-time portrait artist is the winner of the inaugural Peoples’ Prize in the Adam Portraiture Award. Aucklander Mark Rutledge won the publicly-chosen prize for his close-up portrait of musician Ray Columbus.
The 9000 visitors to the Adam Award exhibition had the opportunity to vote for their favourite portrait. Director Avenal McKinnon said the Ray Columbus portrait was a clear winner. “People clearly responded to the high level of technical expertise and strong realism exhibited in this portrait,” she said, “and audiences often like images of people and personalities they know”.
Artist Mark Rutledge said he sparked an instantaneous friendship with Ray Columbus when they met. “Ray contacted me to suggest some art work, and when I met him I suggested a portrait. This is my first portrait, my second painting in colour and only my 3rd oil painting.”
Rutledge intends using his $2,000 prize money to travel overseas to continue with a series of portraits of rock and roll singers, including Brant Bjork, Nick Oliveri, Mike Watt and Iggy Pop.
The 2010 Adam Portrait Award in the NZ Portrait Gallery closed last night. The next exhibition called Face 2 Face, featuring contemporary portraiture by Martin Ball and Mary McIntrye, opens on April 22
Pictures are the leading four chosen by the public.
Top right: is People's Choice winner Ray Columbus by Mark Rutledge who stands in front.
Right: is Robbie Magasiva by Nic Scotland
Bottom left is Eye to Eye (Jack Willetts) by Sian Davis
Bottom right is Cloud Plucker (Frank Winnips) by Patricia Van Lubeck
Contacts: further information Elizabeth Alley 04 970 8341 021 067 7049
Mark Rutledge 021 025 46583
Avenal McKinnon 0274 444 775
The Original Press Statement to Announce People's Choice
For the first time the public will be able to participate in selecting their favourite portrait in the 2010 NZ Portrait Gallery Adam Portraiture Award opening February 24th.
”Gallery visitors will have the opportunity to cast a vote for their own favourite portrait
Gallery Director Avenal McKinnon said. “ The artist of the most popular portrait will receive a special $2,000 prize, while the overall winner receives $15,000”.
Judge for the 2010 award is director of the National Portrait Gallery of Australia, Andrew Sayers who makes the first selection before coming to Wellington in February for final judging in Shed 11.
A record number of 311 entries will compete in the 2010 award. . “Not only do we have more entries than ever before, Gallery Director Avenal McKinnon said. “but the standard is consistently high. And for the first time, portraits of Maori and indigenous themes are strongly represented. It will be a very difficult task for our judge to reduce the entries down to a manageable number of between 80 and 100 for final judging.”
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The 2010 Adam Portraiture Award showed in the NZ Portrait Gallery February 24 – 11 April 2010. Free Admission
For interviews or information: Elizabeth Alley 04 970 8341 / 021 067 7049
Avenal McKinnon 472 8874
Further information: Elizabeth Alley NZ Portrait Gallery Communications:
(New Zealand 064) ((0)4) 970 8341