The Liverpool Art Prize is a competition of contemporary art open to professional artists based in or born in the Liverpool City Region. The competition is administered and managed by Metal at Edge Hill Station.
The prize of £2000 pounds is awarded to the winning artist. The winner of the People’s choice award, decided on by the public voting at the gallery, will be awarded with £1000.
Nominations were open to any contemporary visual artist based in or born in Liverpool City Region (including the boroughs of Halton, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral) and the shortlist was decided by considering the contribution or impact they have made to the local, national or international art scene.
Shortlisted artists: Kevin Hunt, Tabitha Moses, Julieann O’Malley and Laurence Payot
Liverpool artist Tabitha Moses has been named as the winner of the 2013 Liverpool Art Prize in an award ceremony at the Grand Hall at the city’s Albert Dock, where work from Tabitha and 3 other shortlisted artists, Julieann O’Malley, Laurence Payot and Kevin Hunt has been on display since 26 April. The exhibition will continue to run until Saturday 8 June.
The Liverpool Art Prize, managed by the city’s Metal gallery, is a competition of contemporary art, which was inspired by the Turner Prize coming to Liverpool during the Capital of Culture year in 2008. It is open to all professional artists based or born in Liverpool City Region, including the surrounding boroughs of Liverpool, Wirral, St Helens, Knowsley, Halton and Sefton.
The shortlist and main prize was decided by a highly qualified panel of judges, which comprises Sally Tallant (Director of Liverpool Biennial), Tim Etchells (multi-disciplinary artist), Laura Davis (Arts Editor, Liverpool Daily Post) and Robyn Woolston (Artist and winner of Liverpool Art Prize 2012).
Robyn Woolston said: “Judging has provided a fascinating journey over the past year, marking a transition from entrant to evaluator. Primarily it’s provided the opportunity to consider deeply the contribution made across outputs, practices and presentations from each of the short-listed artists. It has been a privilege and an education.”
In addition to to the main prize, Tabitha Moses also won the ‘People’s Choice Award’ which this year was dedicated to Liverpool artist Joe Bampton who sadly passed away in February 2013. This is the first time in the history of Liverpool Art Prize that one of the 4 shortlisted artists has won both the Main Prize and the People’s Choice Award.
Tabitha Moses is interested in the meanings and possibilities of materials. Although fabric and stitch are central to her practice, her works take many forms. Craft processes combine with conceptual rigour and emotional depth in response to people, places, spaces and things. Tabitha was born in Liverpool and spent the 1970s making things and reading stories. After studying embroidery she worked for 8 years in film and TV costume before gaining her MA in textiles beginning to practice as an artist.
As the overall winner of the Liverpool Art Prize Tabitha will receive £2,000. She will also receive £1,000 as her prize for winning the People’s Choice Award.
Tabitha Moses said: “I can’t quite believe I’ve won! This is the first time I’ve ever created work that directly references my own personal experiences, and I’m very glad that I did. I would urge all Liverpool artists to apply for the prize in future as it’s an amazing experience.”
