New Zealand Art Show 2012 – 3,000 Artworks by 419 Artists

4 July 2012

New Zealand Art Show 2012 – 3,000 Artworks by 419 Artists

This year’s New Zealand Art Show, the biggest art show in the country, promises to provide more contemporary art works in a wider range of media, according to the Show’s selection panel.

The selection panel has now completed their task and chosen around 3,000 works by 419 New Zealand artists. The New Zealand Art Show is now in its ninth year and will be, as in previous years, in the TSB Bank Arena on Wellington’s waterfront, over three days. The Show opens with a Gala Evening on Thursday, 2 August, with open days from Friday, 3 August to Sunday, 5 August 2012.

The Convenor of the Selection Panel, Wellington artist Lynne Sandri said, “The standard of the work presented this year was the best ever and the panel faced some difficult decisions. We have selected works by established and renowned artists, some of whom have exhibited at previous Shows and whose work will be exhibited alongside talented and emerging artists, the stars of the future.

“What stands out from previous year’s Shows is that more contemporary and less traditional works have been selected. This is consistent with the trend towards artists experimenting and pushing the boundaries of their media. We think this will make for a more adventurous, challenging and exciting show, and appeal to a wider audience.”

One of the new artists exhibiting at this year’s Show is Elam School of Fine Arts graduate Toby Raine. Toby won the first of the New Zealand Affordable Art Trust’s $3,000 Emerging Artist Awards and will have three works in this year’s Show.

Toby’s work has won already won critical acclaim; he was a finalist in the 2011 Wallace Art Awards, the winner of the 2010 Rob Thomas Auckland Art Challenge, 2010 Henrietta and Lola Anne Tunbridge Watercolour Scholarship Winner, and 2010 Denise Gerard Scholarship Winner.

Art selected for the Show include the visual arts, oils, acrylic paint and graphite pencil and limited edition mezzotint, etchings and screen prints; alongside limited edition photography; sculpture in wood, stone, metal and stainless steel; and cast and blown glass works.

A full list of the exhibiting artists for this year’s Show is on the website; to view the list please click here, and artworks by artists with Single Artist Walls or Solo Panels at the Show can be viewed here.

All art accepted for the Show must be original and from New Zealand artists or artists currently resident in New Zealand. It must also be for sale for between $50 and $5,000; the average price of the art that sold at last year’s show was $613.

The Art Show is open to the public by general admission. The art displayed is constantly changing so there is always something different to see. Tickets cost $10 each, concessions $7, with children 12 years and under free. To pre-purchase tickets, email tickets@artshow.co.nz. Door sales are also available.

“The Art Show’s mantra is ‘affordable, collectible’ and by attending the Show visitors have the opportunity to start or add to their art collection while at the same time supporting New Zealand artists and the arts community. We’d also like to see an original New Zealand artwork on every home and office wall,” Carla Russell said.

About the New Zealand Art Show

The New Zealand Art Show is an annual three-day art exhibition held each year in Wellington’s Events Centre on Queens Wharf. This year’s show will run from Friday, 3 August to Sunday, 5 August 2012.

Established in 2004 as the New Zealand Affordable Art Show, the last eight years has seen the event grow in size, reputation and quality. The exhibition showcases 3,000+ artworks by more than 400 artists; it is the largest art exhibition in this country. Since its inception, it has sold around $6 million worth of art, returning over $5 million back to artists – making the show a significant contributor to New Zealand’s arts community.

A gala evening is held on the eve of the show’s opening to the public (Thursday 2 August).
All tickets can be purchased through www.artshow.co.nz

The New Zealand Art Show is governed by the New Zealand Affordable Art Trust (NZAAT). Its vision is to promote New Zealand artists and help them access resources and opportunities to further their development, and to promote the appreciation of New Zealand art to the wider public.

The NZAAT is a registered charity (# CC28710) under the Charities Act 2005.

ENDS

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