86- (Rhyming slang for worth nix) oil/linen 1 x 1m
Media release : BP Portrait Award 2016
Geelong based Victorian artist Janne Kearney has beaten over 2,500 entries from over 90 countries to become one of just 53 finalists in the 2017 BP Portrait Award in London.
Presenters of the award, which is regarded as the ‘Portraiture Oscars,’ declared Kearney’s ‘86 (rhyming slang for worth nix)’ as an example of “the very best in contemporary portrait painting.” The UK’S most revered art critics judge the award at the National Portrait Gallery in London and only a few Australian artists have reached the final 52 selected artists, a rare accolade. According to Kearney, the opportunity to have her art displayed at the National Portrait Gallery will transform her career. A photorealistic painter, Kearney is a self-taught artist, beginning her artistic career at the age of 43. “I am a 54-year-old woman who has worked hard to teach myself to paint. Appearing in the London Portrait Gallery means I am flying the flag not only for Australia, but for older female artists, for those without the ‘right’ connections and for those who don’t have a formalised fine arts background or a university degree,” Kearney said. Kearney’s oil painting, titled ’86 (rhyming slang for worth nix)’ represents her passion for weaving narrative symbolism within straight forward images. Her body of work tackles some of society’s most challenging concepts, such as marriage equality, youth homelessness and the flawed mental health system.
‘86’ is the second piece of Kearney’s to be recognised by the judges in the BP Portrait Award, after her 2015 piece, ‘Miasma’ from her Dystopia series went through to the top 200 in the judging.
Without favouring reputation, popularity or connections, submissions for the BP Portrait Award are anonymous to ensure only the best are acknowledged. The top 3 finishers are awarded a share of the £61,000 (almost $105,000 AUD) in total prizes. The art works will be exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery from 22 June - 24 September 2017, then go on tour to Exeter City Art Gallery (4 October – 4 December, 2017), Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh (11 December, 2017 – 19 March, 2018) and Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens (26 March – 11 June, 2018). It is estimated that over 500,000 people will attend the touring exhibition over the 12-month period. During the BP Portrait Award’s 28-year history, artworks by over 1,400 emerging artists and firmly established professionals from around the globe have been exhibited, with more than 4 million visitors experiencing the creative works.
If you would like further information, high res images or to request an interview with Janne Kearney, please do not hesitate to contact us at Flinders Lane Gallery at info@flg.com.au or 03 9654 3332.
About the artist, Janne Kearney Kearney is now well-placed among an international elite set of portrait artists. With no formal training and a late start as an artist at 43 years of age, Kearney’s story is truly remarkable and her work has continued to impress and catch the eye of critics and art lovers alike. Quickly making a name for herself as the pre-eminent photorealist portraiture artist of Australia, Janne Kearney continues to go from strength to strength. Not one to shy away from confronting subject matter, her ethereal and pop-culture based work often explores issues surrounding marriage and gender inequality, experiences of people and places abandoned by society as well as portraying the trauma inflicted by disjointed youth justice systems. Her works dissect stereotypes as she both confronts and comforts her audience.
About the work Kearney’s oil painting, titled ’86 (rhyming slang for worth nix)’ is illustrative of the artist’s passion for weaving intricate narrative symbolism into seemingly straightforward images. Kearney’s somber and mellow image evokes notions of love, loss and darkness, and the use of subtly placed rainbow colours examines fluid gender identification while breaking down traditional definitions of beauty. Each of her paintings includes a rainbow, she will continue to incorporate this symbol until Australia legalizes same sex marriage. About the BP Portrait Award Selected from 2,580 entries by artists from 87 countries around the world, the BP Portrait Award 2017 represents the very best in contemporary portrait painting. The BP Portrait Award 2017 exhibition will run at the National Portrait Gallery from 22 June to 24 September 2017. Now in its thirty-eighth year at the National Portrait Gallery and twenty-eighth year of sponsorship by BP, the Award continues to be an unmissable highlight of the annual art calendar.
The competition was judged from original paintings by this year’s panel:
Nicholas Cullinan, Director, National Portrait Gallery (Chair) Sarah Howgate, Contemporary Curator, National Portrait Gallery Michael Landy, Artist Kirsty Wark, Broadcaster and journalist Camilla Hampshire, Museums Manager & Cultural Lead, Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter Des Violaris, Director, UK Arts & Culture, BP.
The BP award means unprecedented opportunities and recognition on the international stage. It gives the ability for a portrait artist’s work that may have been formerly unseen to be appreciated by hundreds of thousands of people across the UK and additional online exposure that globally reaches countless millions. The BP award showcases the very best in portraiture, free of the celebrity pushes and popularity base behind some of the art world’s other big prizes.
BP Portrait award
FLINDERS LANE GALLERY 137 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC Tues - Fri 11am to 6pm, Sat 11am to 5pm (except for 3pm on the last day of exhibition.) info@flg.com.au, (03) 9654 3332 www.flg.com.au FREE ENTRY
2017
86 (rhyming slang for worth nix) Is a finalist in the BP Portrait Award 2017, and will be on tour throughout the UK for the next 12 months.
Hi res images of '86' and selected works- click here.
2016 Winner Corangamarah Small Scale Art Prize
oil on canvas 25 x 25 cm
'Don't' orangamarah Small Scale Art Prize
2016 shortlistings
The Lethbridge 10000
Clifton Art Prize
The Corangamarah Art Prize
The Wydham Art Prize
The Calleen Art Award
The Percival Tucker Portrait Prize
The Stanthorpe Art Award
BP Portrait Prize Semi-Finalist: 2015 'Miasma'
I am also very proud to say my painting 'Miasma' has been selected as a semi-finalist in the BP Portrait Award...
The BP Portrait Award is an annual portraiture competition held at the National Portrait Gallery in London, England.
It's one of the most prestigious art competitions for contemporary art and the most important portrait prize in the world. The Daily Mail defined it as "The portraiture Oscars".
I am also very proud to say my painting 'Miasma' has been selected as a semi-finalist in the BP Portrait Award...
The BP Portrait Award is an annual portraiture competition held at the National Portrait Gallery in London, England.
It's one of the most prestigious art competitions for contemporary art and the most important portrait prize in the world. The Daily Mail defined it as "The portraiture Oscars".
AUSTRALIAN ARTIST MAGAZINE: July 2015
GEELONG ADVERTISER: Saturday 11/07/2015
