Isolationist Art Prize

Isolationist Art Prize: Life in Lockdown

BA (Hons) Fine Art, School of the Arts, University of Bolton is launching a new art competition this week.  The Isolationists Art Prize asks artists to make artwork in response to the theme Life in Lockdown. Any observations, reflections on life experienced during this time; whether it be from your own perspective, that of a loved one, a stranger or from another species are all relevant.  Questions you may ask ..how has life seemed different to you? What has become the new normal? have there been any moments of unexpected calm, joy or discovery during this time?

Interpretations can be humorous, sad, satirical, poignant, sublime or absurd. Work can be made in any media including, but not limited to painting, drawing, sculpture, performance, film, photography and sound.  Please note that time based artworks do not exceed 2mins in duration and are no larger than 10 MB. Audio files should be in MP3 format and video files should be in MP4 format.  All images must be either in JPEG, PNG or GIF and have a minimum height or width of 800 pixels and no larger than 2 MB.

Who can apply – Invitations are open to aspiring artists who are currently studying in The School of the Arts on BA (Hons)Fine Art / Art & Design, Foundation Art & Design and to new undergraduates joining us in Sept 2020.

The Prize – Two prizes of Fred Aldous Ltd Gift vouchers worth £100 each will be awarded. There are two categories under which the prizes are awarded: the new student category and current undergraduate category.

Deadline for submissions midnight 4th June.
Send to m.mullaney@bolton.ac.uk

Prizes will be announced in June and a virtual online exhibition will be launched featuring shortlisted artists work including prizewinners.

Submissions may be posted on Instagram #boltonunifineart

The Judges

Julie Lomax, CEO a-n The Artists Information Company

Dr David Gledhill, artist & director of Rogue Artists’ Studios CIC

Julie Lomax

Julie Lomax is CEO of a-n The Artists Information Company.Lomax’s previous roles include Director of Development at Liverpool Biennial, Director of Visual Arts at Australia Council for the Arts and Arts Council England. She is currently chair of The Showroom, an Executive Committee member of the Association of Women in the Arts, and has an advisory role for Open Space Contemporary. She was previously a panel member for the Olympic Delivery Authority, Fourth Plinth and Art on the Underground.

Dr David Gledhill

David Gledhill is a professional artist and co-director of Rogue Artists’ Studios CIC, the largest studio provider in the North West. In addition to his activity as an artist, David is a lecturer in Fine Art at the University of Bolton, and has contributed writing and reviews to numerous artist’s projects and publications. He has recently completed a PhD at Manchester Metropolitan University.

David’s work addresses historical themes through the use of found photographs, and features in the collections of East Sussex County Council, Rank Xerox, Halliwell’s, Touchstones Rochdale, Deutsche Kreditbank AG Berlin, and Steven Berkoff. Recent projects include a collaboration with Nicholas Royle entitled In Camera (Negative Press) and a series of exhibitions in Berlin examining the social, political and historical significance of the athlete’s village constructed for the 1936 Olympic Games.

Emily Motto

Emily Motto (b.1992, Orpington) studied at the Ruskin School of Art, Oxford. She works between sculpture, installation and drawing, often creating playful and unstable forms, arenas and mazes. Selected exhibitions include Provisional Conditions at Beaconsfield Gallery Vauxhall, London; Taking Shape: Sculpture on the Verge at Pangaea Sculptors’ Centre, London; ON&OFF at Proyecto Medellin, Mexico City; Saatchi New Sensations at Victoria House, London; and the December Mostra at the British School at Rome, Italy. Solo exhibitions include Intervals at NLS Kingston, Jamaica; Holdfast at Chalton Gallery, London; and Postures at Rice+Toye, London. She currently has the New Contemporaries Studio Bursary at the Bluecoat, Liverpool for 2019-20, and was recently awarded the Royal Society of Sculptors’ Gilbert Bayes Award for 2020.

http://www.emilymotto.com/