Words published on artlyst.com
"The highly regarded chef and restaurateur Mark Hix has announced the shortlist for this year’s 2018 HIX Award, the nationally acclaimed competition for art students and recent graduates.
Each year entries are increasing and the variety of work is proving more difficult to select the final shortlist – Mark Hix
The winner of The HIX Award 2018 will receive a £10,000 cash prize to go towards studio costs and a solo exhibition at HIX ART in 2019. The winner will also receive a year’s guardianship and name etching on the iconic HIX Award trophy, designed by Damien Hirst.
The HIX Award runner-up will receive £1,000 worth of Cass Art vouchers and this year’s People’s Choice winner will be treated to a weekend trip for two to HIX Townhouse in Lyme Regis with a scenic dinner at HIX Oyster and Fish House.
The shortlisted artists are: Alexandria Frances Clow, Ali Ferro Kirby, Araminta Blue, Byungchan Kim, Charlotte Kidger, Elizabeth Eade, Grace Lee, Jo Lane, Lydia Makin, Mathilde Heu, Megan Rea, Minjoo Kim, Peng Peng, Phil Woodward, Roxette Cryer, Sam Harris, Stella Boothman, Susana Uvidia, Susanna Brunetti.
The winner of the award will be announced at a prize-giving ceremony on Thursday 25th October, and an exhibition featuring work by all the shortlisted artists will be held at the HIX ART from Saturday 15th September until Sunday 11th November.
Since the award’s inception in 2013, it has rapidly achieved a nationally renowned reputation as one of London’s most sensational, yet accessible, student art awards. The award attracts artists from across the country and is widely praised for its scope, quality, and variety.
Now in its sixth year the award is at the forefront of the emerging art scene in the UK today. It offers the opportunity to be involved in a group exhibition, as well as the chance to receive one of London’s most-generous award prizes for students and recent graduates.
The award’s 30-strong judging panel includes; Tracey Emin, Gavin Turk, Stephen Webster, Dylan Jones, and Mark Hix himself.
First winner of the award Nicholas Permain was selected for the prestigious FBA Futures in 2015 and continues to exhibit his paintings across the UK, most recently a solo show in early 2018 at The North Wall Gallery in Oxford.
Felix Treadwell was named GQ’s ‘British Artist to Watch’ in 2017, after winning the HIX Award back in 2014 has been involved in a number of solo and group exhibitions in London and internationally.
Ally McIntyre, winner of the 2015 award is represented by Jealous Gallery, with whom she is regularly involved with exhibitions, art fairs, and limited edition print runs. A print of her HIX Award-winning painting ‘Moon Cries for Ferdinand’ is now a part of the V&A’s permanent print collection.
2016’s winner Joshua Raz is currently exhibiting in an exclusive show with North-Eastern visual arts organisation Breeze Creatives. Raz is also mentored by former S12 gallery director Fru Tholstrop, a previous member of the HIX Award judging panel.
Sam Bailey, the award’s most recent winner, is working on preparing for his inaugural show with HIX ART, to be held in November.
Mark Hix says: Each year entries are increasing and the variety of work is proving more difficult to select the final shortlist. It’s always a tricky one and there are so many potential winners but it’s great to see how the future of the art world is evolving. Huge thanks to our sponsors Farrer & Co, Fortnum and Mason, Stephen Webster Jewelry, GQ, CASS ART and especially our lead sponsor Coutts private bank who without their support the award would not be where it is today."
Visit The Exhibition At HIX ART Tramshed, 32 Rivington Street, London, EC2A 3LX – 15 September – 11 November 2018 Extended exhibition at Coutts – January – March 2019