The Walters Prize 2012
4 August–11 November 2012
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Level 2 exhibition spaces
Corner Kitchener and Wellesley Streets
Auckland, New Zealand
This week, the exhibition of New Zealand’s most prestigious art award opens at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. It is the first Walters Prize presented at the newly developed Gallery and, for the first time in the Prize’s history, entry to the exhibition is free.
The Walters Prize is awarded for an outstanding work of contemporary New Zealand art produced and exhibited during the past two years. This year’s nominated artworks are by finalists Simon Denny, Alicia Frankovich, Kate Newby, and Sriwhana Spong.
The Walters Prize 2012 International judge, Mami Kataoka, Chief Curator at the Mori Art Museum (MAM) in Tokyo, Japan, will decide and announce the winner at the awards dinner held on the 20 October.
In addition to the prize, the winner receives an all-expense paid trip to New York with the opportunity to exhibit at Saatchi & Saatchi’s world headquarters. They also join a celebrated list of former Walters Prize winners and contemporary New Zealand artists: Yvonne Todd, et al., Francis Upritchard, Peter Robinson, and Dan Arps.
Held every two years, the Walters Prize aims to make contemporary art a more widely recognised and debated feature of cultural life. Named in honour of the late New Zealand artist Gordon Walters, the Prize was established in 2002 by Founding Benefactors and Principal Donors Erika and Robin Congreve and Dame Jenny Gibbs, working together with Auckland Art Gallery.
During the course of the three-month exhibition, visitors will be able to vote for their favourite artwork in the people’s choice award.
Finalists for the Walters Prize 2012
Simon Denny: Introductory logic video tutorial shown at Artspace, Sydney (5 March–10 April 2010)
Alicia Frankovich: Floor Resistance shown at Hebbel Am Ufer, HAU 3, Berlin, (25 June 2011)
Kate Newby: Crawl out your window, shown at Gesellschaft für aktuelle Kunst GAK, Bremen (28 August–7 November 2010)
Sriwhana Spong: Fanta Silver and Song shown at Gertrude Contemporary, Melbourne (4 February–5 March 2011)
The Walters Prize 2012 will be exhibited from 4 August until 11 November.
Founding Benefactors and Principal Donors
Erika and Robin Congreve
Dame Jenny Gibbs
Major Donor
Dayle Mace
Founding Sponsor
Saatchi & Saatchi
Preferred Accommodation Providers
Pullman Hotels and Resorts
Supported by
Regional Facilities Auckland
For more information please contact:
Tae Allison
Communications Coordinator
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
T +64 9 307 7706/ M +64 27 291 9953
tae.allison [at] aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
*Images above:
Top (L to R): Simon Denny, Introductory logic video tutorial, shown at Artspace, Sydney (5 March–10 April 2010). Alicia Frankovich, Floor Resistance, shown at Hebbel Am Ufer, HAU 3, Berlin (25 June 2011).
Bottom (L to R): Kate Newby, Crawl out your window, shown at Gesellschaft für aktuelle Kunst GAK, Bremen (28 August–7 November 2010)
. Sriwhana Spong, Fanta Silver and Song, shown at Gertrude Contemporary, Melbourne (4 February–5 March 2011).
