Francis Upritchard’s Booked Launched

Saatchi & Saatchi

Francis Upritchard’s Every Colour By Itself Launches At New Zealand House, London

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Walters Prize winner, Francis Upritchard’s new book Every Colour By Itself was launched on Monday 20 April 2009 at New Zealand House in London by High Commissioner Derek Leask, hosted by Kate MacGarry Gallery.

Produced with the support of Saatchi & Saatchi, through their association with the Walters Prize, Every Colour By Itself is a visual journey through 39 of Upritchard’s modeled figures, each detailed with psychedelic surfaces and a handmade quality.

As a recipient of the prestigious biennial contemporary art award, Upritchard chose to exchange her all expenses paid trip to New York for funding from Saatchi & Saatchi to produce the book.

Saatchi & Saatchi Chief Executive Officer Andrew Stone said: “Saatchi & Saatchi are delighted to have supported Francis in the production of this important and innovative work. She is a young artist of extraordinary talent whom we look forward to seeing develop as a significant presence in the international art world.”

Every Colour By Itself will also accompany Upritchard to the 53rd International Venice Biennale, where she will represent New Zealand with Judy Millar, which runs from 7 June 2009 until 22 November 2009.

Saatchi & Saatchi supports the Walters Prize with Jenny Gibbs, Erika and Robin Congreve, Dayle Mace and Ernst & Young, in partnership with the Auckland Art Gallery.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Francis Upritchard is a New Zealand artist living in London. She has exhibited extensively in New Zealand, Europe and America since graduating from Canterbury University’s Ilam School of Fine Arts in 1997. In 2007-08 Francis Upritchard took up a three month residency at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery resulting in the exhibition rainwob i before participating in residency at Artspace Sydney where she presented rainwob ii. These exhibitions continue Upritchard’s exploration of utopian drives through fragments of real and fictional histories which are retrieved, reworked and reinvested with new meaning. She is represented by Kate MacGarry, London and Ivan Anthony, Auckland. For further information on Francis Upritchard at the Venice Biennale see www.nzatvenice.com.

The Walters Prize is New Zealand's most prestigious contemporary art prize. This biennial award recognises an artist who has made an outstanding contribution to contemporary art in New Zealand in the two years prior. Named in honour of artist Gordon Walters, it was established to make contemporary art a more widely recognised and debated and prominent feature of New Zealand cultural life. The winner receives $50,000, plus the opportunity to travel to New York and exhibit at Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide headquarters. Founding Benefactors and Principal Donors: Erika and Robin Congreve and Jenny Gibbs, Major Donor: Dayle Mace, Founding Principal Sponsor: Ernst & Young, Founding Sponsor: Saatchi & Saatchi.

ENDS

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