UK’s BIGGEST PAINTING PRIZE 2014 LONGLIST

John Moores exhibitors

Once again the Walker Art Gallery brings a fascinating array of approaches to one of art’s most traditional mediums when the John Moores Painting Prize opens from 5 July to 30 November 2014, as part of the Liverpool Biennial.

The endurance of paint to both enable and inspire artists to create radical, beautiful and challenging work presides over the exhibition. The mix is eclectic, with landscapes, portraits, abstract and sculptural works united only by their manipulation of paint.

52 artists have been selected from more than 2,500 entrants. The shortlist of prize winners, will be announced at the opening of the exhibition on 5 July 2014, with the ultimate first prize, sponsored by David M. Robinson, to be awarded in September 2014.

Sandra Penketh, Director of Art Galleries said: "This year’s John Moores Painting Prize has attracted some very accomplished artists whose work we are thrilled to have on display at the Walker. The judges have selected a show which highlights some of the very best of contemporary painting and gives a strong sense of current trends and themes alive today in the studios and art schools up and down the country.”

The 2014 judges are Tim Marlow, Director of Artistic Programmes at the Royal Academy and artists Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Zeng Fanzhi, Chantal Joffe and Tom Benson.

Judge and 2013 Turner Prize nominee, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye said: “One of the most wonderful things about this process has been the opportunity to really look at and talk about painting.

“We spent a long time looking at and arguing about all of the entries. It was far more complex than talking in basic terms of likes and dislikes but about attempting to understand what painters are actually trying to achieve in their work.

“It's been an honour and a pleasure to spend time with the work of so many kindred spirits; people who face the same confidence crises, dilemmas and good times in the studio as I do.”

Dubbed the 'Oscars of the painting world', the Prize, organised in partnership with the John Moores Liverpool Exhibition Trust, has garnered a reputation for keeping its finger on the pulse of contemporary painting for almost 60 years. Past winners include David Hockney (1967), Mary Martin (1969), Peter Doig (1993) and most recently, Sarah Pickstone (2012).

The John Moores Painting Prize is part of National Museums Liverpool's Modern Masters series, part funded by the European Union - the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

It is also supported by our exhibition partner Weightmans and sponsor Investec.

John Moores Painting Prize 2014 exhibitors (alphabetical order) and works:

Phil Ashcroft - Crockett

Jo Berry - Untitled 2013

Jane Bustin - Christina the Astonishing 1

James Byrne - Book

Wayne Clough - Citadel

Paul Collinson - Et in Arcadia lego

Christopher Cook -Vanity totem

David Dawson - 18 45 April 7th 2011

Robin Dixon - Estuary Bridge

Fiona Eastwood - Closed

Robert Fawcett - Frank As Androcles

Tom Hackney - Chess Painting No. 21(Duchamp vs. Kostic, Nice, 1930)

Susie Hamilton - Freezer

Rae Hicks - Sometimes I Forget That You're Gone

Charlotte Hopkins - Hall A Private Space

Barbara Howey - Orange Sash

Julian Hughes-Watts - New Logo(White-Red): Bear Stearns#15

Thomas Hylander - Living Room

Andy Jackson - ThrStrps

Nicholas Kulkarni - Tracer

Rachel Levitas - Fox with Dahlias IV

Juliette Losq - Vinculum

Hynek Martinec - Every Minute You Are Closer To Death

Andrew McIntosh - Abandoned Dollhouse 6: Sorting Station

John McSweeney - Legacy

Nicholas Middleton - Black Bloc

Reuben Murray - Sister, is that you?

Tony Noble - Small homes and big trees, Batley Carr.

Grace O'Connor - Girl Fight

David O'Malley - King of Infinite Space/Don't Let Life Pass You By

G E Palmer - The Virgin Pin

Mandy Payne - Brutal

Daniel Pettitt - Standard

Frank Pudney - People 69104

Emma Puntis - Untitled, 2013

Alessandro Raho - Jessica

Timothy Renshaw - nowhere

Neal Rock - Inked Prosopon / 0813

Conor Rogers - 88 calorie

Karen Roulstone - Drift

Gideon Rubin - Three Girls

Alli Sharma - Ingrid 2 (A Kind of Loving)

Mark Siebert - Losers (Homerton High Street 3)

Mike Silva - Landscape (257)

Rebecca Sitar - Under the tree

Ian St.John - Fallen Matter

Lexi Strauss - Tupperware Party (from The Twelve Apostles as Babies series)

Trevor Sutton - Christow

Covadonga Valdés - Homeland

Roxy Walsh - Tunnel of Love

Rose Wylie - PV Windows and Floorboards

Carlos Zuniga - Woman on the grass

www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/johnmoores

Twitter: @johnmoores2014

Facebook: www.facebook.com/johnmoorespaintingprize

Notes to editors

John Moores Painting Prize facts:

• The John Moores Painting Prize is the UK's biggest painting prize. The competition is entered anonymously and open to all UK-based artists working with paint.
• Sir Peter Blake, winner of the junior award in 1961 became the first patron of the Prize in 2011.
• The John Moores Painting Prize is organised in partnership with the John Moores Liverpool Exhibition Trust.
• The John Moores Painting Prize is part of Liverpool Biennial, one of the UK’s largest and most exciting contemporary visual arts events. The 8th Liverpool Biennial International Festival of Contemporary Art, will take place from Saturday 5 July – Sunday 26 October 2014.
• The £2014 Visitors’ Choice award, sponsored by Rathbones will be announced in November.
• The five prize winners from the John Moores Painting Prize China 2014 will also be on display. 

ERDF in the Northwest

ERDF is making a real difference to people and businesses in the North West. The current programme, which is worth €755 million, is enhancing the competitiveness of the region’s economy by supporting growth in enterprise and employment.

ERDF in the North West is managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government – for further information visit https://www.gov.uk/erdf-programmes-progress-and-achievements

Liverpool Biennial 2014: The UK Biennial of Contemporary Art

Saturday 5 July – Sunday 26 October

International art that unfolds across Liverpool’s spaces, places and galleries.

The 8th Liverpool Biennial exhibition explores art in everyday life and is curated by Mai Abu ElDahab and Anthony Huberman. It takes place across the city at venues including public spaces and galleries such as the Bluecoat, FACT and Tate Liverpool. Also featured in Liverpool Biennial 2014 are the John Moores Painting Prize, Bloomberg New Contemporaries, and shows at Open Eye Gallery and LJMU’s Exhibition Research Centre. In addition, there will be work by artists and curators in solo and group exhibitions and performances throughout the city.

About National Museums Liverpool

National Museums Liverpool comprises eight venues. Our collections are among the most important and varied in Europe and contain everything from Impressionist paintings and rare beetles to a lifejacket from the Titanic.                                                          

We attract more than 2.7 million visitors every year. Our venues are the International Slavery Museum, Lady Lever Art Gallery, Merseyside Maritime Museum, Museum of Liverpool, Sudley House, Border Force National Museum (Seized! The Border and Customs Uncovered), Walker Art Gallery and World Museum. 

One of the finest art galleries in Europe, the Walker Art Gallery is home to renaissance masterpieces, Tudor portraits and one of the best collections of Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite art in the country. An outstanding display of contemporary art includes work by David Hockney, Lucian Freud and Bridget Riley.

Walker Art Gallery William Brown Street, Liverpool     Admission FREE
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