Whyalla Art Prize

I am very pleased to announce that my painting Home of the Brave has been selected as a finalist in the $25,000 Whyalla Art Prize. It will be on display at the Middleback Arts Centre from September 26 to 14 November, along side works from such clever souls as ‪#‎datsuntran‬ and ‪#‎tseringhannaford‬ 

Although now its freezing out, this picture will always be associated in my mind with last January's blistering heatwave, when I spent many days sweltering in the studio trying to capture the nature of oxidised bronze. 

Here's a little bit about the painting: The ebb and flow of Imperial fortunes can be traced by the monuments they leave. Bronze affirmations mythologise successes (and failures) until, in time, these myths come to define the events themselves. 

Defence of these myths reach absurd levels in New York, with the apartments now occupying Wall Street’s former financial bastions protected by barriers and armed guards, because the symbolism of the name is more potent than the mundane reality. 

Here, the statues advertising the capitalist mantra are barricaded from their disciples; victims of a congregation so enraptured they have long since lost perspective of their original beliefs.
©Matthew Quick 2015

Arthur Guy Memorial Painting Prize, Bendigo Art Gallery

I am very honoured and excited to be selected as a finalist in this year's Arthur Guy Memorial Painting Prize, with my piece Domestic Goddess.

This is a killer prize, with an incredible line up of judges; Dr Alessi, Senior Lecturer Visual Art & Design, Latrobe University; Jennifer Kalionis, director of the Castlemaine Art Gallery; John McDonald, Art Critic and the Sydney Morning Herald; Peter Guy as representative of the Guy family and Julie Millowick, Vice Chair of the Bendigo Art Gallery.

But even better, the finalists each year represents Australia’s finest contemporary artists, and has included in the past a jaw dropping line up of talent, including Sam Leach, John Beard, Tony Lloyd, Kate Shaw, Juan Ford, Aida Tomescu, Ivan Durrant, Chris Bond, Yvette Coppersmith, Julia Ciccarone, Kate Bergin, Louise Hearman, Gareth Sansom and Jan Nelson.

Mosman Art Prize, Finalist

Absolutely thrilled to be selected from 850 entries nationwide as a finalist for the prestigious 2015 Mosman Art Prize. And even better to be hanging alongside such illustrious alumni as Marcus Callum, Maz Dixon Artist, Ben Smith, Peter Smets, Robert Malherbe, Jasper Knight, Anh Do and Rodney Pople.

Artwork featured in Neon Magazine, Germany

The magazine Neon has been published since June 23, 2003 monthly in Hamburg publishing house Gruner. Sibling of the venerable Stern (Publishing speak calls it a "line extension," the core target group are people between 20 and 35 years with a high level of education and above-average income. Until 2006 the magazine was subtitled "We were supposed to grow up" and covers topics from the Sociology, Politics, Fashion, Relationships and sexuality, Travel, Career and popular culture. So, pretty much everything really.

Artwork for new CD

New York Alternative Hip Hop group Oxymorrons are using Status Update for their forthcoming album, Complex But Basic. 

Finalist in the Sunshine Coast Art Prize

The work The View from Above has been selected as one of the 40 finalists in the Sunshine Coast Art Prize. The Two Dimensional category is one of numerous awards and categories within the Sunshine Coast Art Prize 10th anniversary celebration, with over $125,000 in cash prizes available for artists.

The exhibition is hosted by the Caloundra Regional Gallery, 22 Omrah Avenue, Caloundra QLD, and opens Thursday 20 August, the official launch and winner announced is Friday 4 September and it closes Sunday 11 October

Finalist in the Nilumbik Art Prize

The work The Emperor's New Clothes has been selected as finalist in the The Nillumbik Art Prize. On display in the Barn Gallery in the spectacular and historic Montsalvat artist's colony, the prize celebrates artists and works from the Nillumbik region and recognises contemporary works of excellence. 

Exhibition opening: Thursday 4 June, 6.30pm – 8.30pm
And the show runs 4 June – 2 August 2015

Finalist in the Calleen Art Prize

The work Status Update has been selected from the hundreds of entries a finalist in the 20150 Calleen Art Award. The 2015 Awards judge is Dr Andrew Frost, art critic, writer and broadcaster. The winning work will join the Calleen Collection at the Cowra Regional Art Gallery. 

he exhibition is on at the Cowra Regional Art Gallery, 77 Darling Sreet, Cowra, NSW from 03 May - 14 Jun 2015. 

This is national painting prize was  established in 1977 by Mrs Patricia Fagan OAM and since its early beginnings the award has developed into a significant art prize worth $19,000 in 2015. 

Magazine Cover

The painting Pure Rationalism has been featured on the front cover of US magazine Nonprofit Quarterly. As a metaphor for teetering fragility brought about by the imbalance between debt and usustainable consumption - a fact Laurence Kotlikoff, Boston University Professor of Economics, has likened to a six decade Ponzi Scheme - there could be no more appropriate place for this painting to appear. 

Finalist in the Kilgour Art Prize

The annual Kilgour Art Prize for figurative and portrait painting awards $50,000 for the most outstanding work of art, as judged by a selection panel.

The judges are John Cheeseman, Manager Cultural Services/ Gallery Director Mosman Art Gallery; Andrew Frost, Art writer and critic and Sarah Johnson, Curator Newcastle Art Gallery. 

The exhibition is on at Newcastle Art Gallery, 1 Laman Street, Newcastle NSW 2300 from
08 November - 25 January 2015.

Finalist in the Fisher's Ghost Art prize

This year marks the 52nd year of the award, with prize money in excess of $40,000.

The major prize is the open award and the winning artist is awarded $20,000, with the work becoming part of the Centre’s permanent collection. 

Entries will be exhibited from 25 October to 14 December at the Cambeltown Arts Centre.

Finalist in the Eutick Memorial Still Life Award

Hosted by the Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery and now in its eight year, the prestigious Eutick Memorial Still Life Award is judged by John McDonald, The Sydney Morning Herald art critic. This is the sixth consecutive year Matthew has been selected for this prize.

Opening night and announcement of winner is on Friday 21 November 2014, and the exhibition runs from 22 November 2014 until 10 January 2015.

Finalist in the Sulman Art Prize

Part of the holy trinity of Australian Painting prizes, the Archibald, Wynne & Sulman prizes run concurrently at the Art Gallery of NSW, and then tours NSW and Victoria. 

The Archibald is for portraiture, the Wynne is for landscape and the Sulman Prize is awarded for the best subject painting, genre painting or mural project by an Australian artist.