The shortlist for the prestigious BP Portrait Award 2019 was announced by the National Portrait Gallery, London on Monday. A panel comprising Gaylene Gould, artist Gary Hume and curator Zoé Whitley selected a self-portrait by Carl-Martin Sandvold, Charlie Schaffer’s Imara in Her Winter Coat, Emma Hopkins’ portrait of a dog and its owner, and a painting of his 95-year-old grandmother by Massimiliano Pironti. The winner of the first prize of £35,000 will be announced on 10 June 2019, and the works exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery from 13 June to 20 October.
This week also saw the launch of the first phase of Mana Decentralized, an online platform launched by the New Jersey-based arts organisation Mana Contemporary that allows artists to sell affordable art (under $5,000) directly to collectors. Artists pay a monthly membership fee that allows them to post images of their work on the site and to connect with potential buyers. Sales are split 60/40 in favour of the artist. Bricks-and-mortar galleries watch on.
Mostyn, the public-funded contemporary art gallery situated in the Welsh town of Llandudno, is looking for a curator of visual arts. The candidate would work to “create a stimulating high-quality exhibition offer to our audiences and online community”. Further details can be found here.
