A new self-portrait group award has been launched to create a platform of recognition and support to those working to establish or continue their artistic practice in the time of coronavirus.
An open call for submissions of self-portraits made now, The Sequested Prize will culminate in the opportunity for 15 artists to be part of a London-based gallery selling show before the close of 2020.
The initiative is co-founded by artist W.K. Lyhne, who is working on a practiced-based PhD with with supervisors from Chelsea College of Arts, UAL and The Royal College of Art and and art curator / advisor Fru Tholstrup.
This unique prize will be judged by a line-up of renowned figures from across the creative sector, including UAL's Professor Simon Ofield-Kerr and Professor Carol Tulloch. Through a two-stage selection process, 15 winners will be selected by the judges and will have their work exhibited in a selling show hosted by Tristan Hoare at his Fitzrovia gallery for 1 week.
I am very honoured to be a member of the Sequested Art Prize Judging Panel. This initiative is testament to the vitality of art practice in a time when the future is hazy but the present makes one focus on our sense of self—the Sequested Art Prize is very timely.
Professor Carol Tulloch
The judges
- Kate Bryan, Curator, writer and Head of Collections Soho House
- Matt Carey-Williams, Senior Director and Worldwide Head of Sales for Victoria Miro Gallery
- Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the National Portrait Gallery
- David Dawson, Painter and photographer
- Fergus Duff, Director in Sotheby’s Impressionist & Modern Art department
- Maryam Eisler, London- based photographer and editor
- Melanie Gerlis, Art market columnist, Financial Times and editor at-large, The Art Newspaper
- Ruth Guilding, Art and design historian, writer and curator
- Katy Hessel, Art historian and curator
- Tristan Hoare, Gallerist
- Dylan Jones, Award-winning editor, GQ magazine
- Samson Kambalu, Artist and writer
- Josh Lilley, Gallerist
- Simon Martin, Director of Pallant House Gallery
- Johnathan Messum, Founder of Messums, Cork St, Wiltshire, Harrogate
- Jane Neal, Independent curator, art critic and advisor
- Professor Simon Ofield-Kerr, Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of the Arts London
- Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries
- Carrie Scott, Art historian, curator and consultant
- Carol Tulloch, Professor of Dress, Diaspora and Transnationalism at University of the Arts London
- Ewan Venters, CEO of Fortnum & Mason
- Katy Wickremesinghe, Founder KTW London
- Jonathan Yeo, Portrait Artist
Entry details
- The prize is open to all artists over the age of 18
- Submissions are open until 30 June 2020
The Sequested Prize costs £10 to enter. From sales of the 15 winning entries, ten percent of the sales will go to CW+, the official charity of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; and 10% to support the cost of the exhibition. The gallery will take no commission.
The remainder goes to the artist, not only directly supporting the artist, but also helping to re-stimulate and invigorate the art market and demonstrate unparalleled support for the organic community.
See thesequestedprize.com for entry and submission information.
Image: Gustave Courbet, Le Désespéré, 1845