The Sovereign Art Foundation

The Sovereign European Art Prize-Shortlist Announcement 08/08/2008

Jarvis Cocker, who was amongst the judges of this year's prize, said on the process, "It sounds like something that they might say on "Blue Peter" - but I really was impressed with the high quality of just about everything we were given to look at. I think that the final selection is very strong - there are one or two works that I personally would have liked to have seen in there that didn't make it - but Hey!, that's the whole point of the Jury system. I'm very grateful to have been part of this process as it has introduced me to a lot of artists that I'd never seen work from before!"

The Sovereign Art Foundation today (8 August) announces the names of the artists short listed for its third annual Sovereign European Art Prize. Artists can only enter the prize through a process of nomination by one of the foundation's Europe wide network of art experts. This year the prize received nearly 600 entries from 21 European countries.

This is the first year the prize has extended its conditions to accept works in all 2D media. The entries demonstrated the exciting and contemporary range of practises occurring within these mediums.

The thirty short listed artists and their works are as follows:

AES+F, Russia, LAST RIOT 2, Tondo #23
Maurizio Anzeri, UK, The last portrait
Sandy Sykes, UK, Cover Me Diptych: I+II
Mimi Mollica, Italy, En Route To Dakar 01
Søren Lose, Germany, Tomorrowland, Park Hotel Interior
John Stark, UK, The Beekeeper
Susanne S.D. Themlitz, Portugal, from the series "Parallel Landscapes or In Search of the Mirror Neurons"
Nadia Hebson, Germany, Valzer
Daniel Canogar, Spain, Enredos 2
Laura Lancaster, UK, Untitled 2008
Rachel Lancaster, UK, Untitled (Lipstick)
Laurent le Deunff, France, Feu de camp (serie de dessin "Dans le bois")
Lynne Collins, UK, On The Edge of Perception 4
Nicola Di Caprio, Italy, U R What U Listen 2 (Self portrait of black spines)
Eòghann Mac Colla, UK, Soidhne gun cànan
Andrew Gilbert, Germany, Sketch for British Military Hospital
Miikka Vaskola, Finland, Untitled 2
Douglas Fishbone, UK, Untitled (Banana Project)
Tiina Heiska, Finland, Crawling Girl
Joss McKinley, UK, Plate 1 from the series 'Underneath an Abject Window, 2005 2006.'
Ben Murphy, UK, Crusty Mark
Peter Churcher, Spain, The Procession, Semana Santa
Anda Bankovska, Latvia, Dog At Midsummer Day
Rita Magalhaes, Portugal, Okita 2
Michael Fliri, Austria, Early one morning with time to waste
Ida Cecilie Kvetny, Denmark, Tumbling down
Julie Nord, Denmark, Visitors
Goldin+Senneby, Sweden, Nassau 6am
Marisa Gonzalez, Spain, Velazquez/Menina
Tina Gibbard, UK, Don’t Go

The judges had a difficult task choosing the thirty shortlisted artists but the final selection presents a stimulating and varied group of artists and subject matters, whose works reveal inspiring insights into contemporary European art and culture. All thirty works will now go to exhibition at Somerset House from the 1st-10th October.

During the exhibition the judges will decide on the ultimate winner of the Euro 25,000 first prize. The winning artist will be announced by the chairman of the Sovereign Group, Howard Bilton, at the gala auction evening on the 10th October at Somerset House. At this event the remaining 29 works will be auctioned, and the proceeds will be split 50:50 between the artist and the charitable foundation. This year proceeds will be used to support Kids Co, who provide invaluable support to London's vulnerable inner-city young people. Kids Co will also feature a specially commissioned art project in the exhibition entrance to coincide with the main exhibition.

Public voting on the thirty shortlisted artists will now commence on the Sovereign Art Foundation's website. Here visitors to the site will decide the winner of the Euro 1,000 public vote prize. The public will also be able to cast their critical votes during the exhibition at Somerset House.

Howard Bilton, the Founder and Chairman of the Sovereign Art Foundation said, "We are pleased to have such strong entries for our third European competition. We hope and expect that we can raise a record sum at auction to support the inspiring work done by Camila Batmangelijdh and her team at Kids Co. so would appeal to the public to go along to the exhibition and consider bidding for their favourite works."

The Sovereign Art Foundation has also announced the shortlist of the 2008 Sovereign Asian Art Prize which can also be viewed via the Foundation's website.

[ Back to news ]