Exeter Contemporary Open 2012, Thursday 13 September to Monday 1 November, Exeter Phoenix
The shortlisted artists have just been announced for the South West’s foremost contemporary art competition. Exeter Contemporary Open is the only Devon-based competition that is open to artists from across the country and indeed the world.
Now in its seventh year, this exhibition of some of the best new talent hasestablished itself as one of the most exciting events in the South West’s cultural calendar, attracting thousands of visitors each year.
Hundreds of submissions from as far away as America, Spain and France have been judged by this year’s panel; artist S Mark Gubb, independent curator Paula Orrell, and Matt Burrows, Exeter Phoenix’s Gallery Curator, who said: “This year’s entries have been particularly impressive. It has been hard to select the shortlist but we are very pleased with the range of work, across a variety of media, by some really exciting emerging artists.”
The selected artists are: Chloe Brooks, Anita Delaney, Nisha Duggal, Aly Helyer, Brendan Lancaster, Oliviere Lariviere, Ruth Piper, Siobhan Raw and David Theobald.
The Overall winner will be announced at a private launch reception on 12 September, hosted by Exeter Phoenix and main sponsors, Haines Watts Chartered Accountants. The winner will receive a prize of £1,000 and two Additional Awards of £500 will also be awarded. Visitors to the exhibition will also have the chance to select their favourite work and the artist with the most votes at the end of the exhibition will be presented with the Audience Choice Award of £200, kindly supported by Exeter Natural Health Centre.