Adam Portraiture Prize 2022: Call for nominations

Artists from across New Zealand are invited to present their work for one of the country’s most prestigious portrait awards, The Adam Portraiture Award.

The award, generously sponsored by the Adam Foundation and presented by New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata, is one of the country’s longest-standing artistic awards.

Anyone can apply to participate in this selected biennial competition anonymously, provided the artist is from New Zealand. All portraits are to be painted only and subjects must be a New Zealand resident or citizen.

Previous winners include Sacha-Lees in 2020, Logan Moffat in 2018, André Brönnimann in 2016, Henry Christian-Slane in 2014, Stephen Martyn Welch in 2012, Harriet Bright in 2010, Irene Ferguson in 2008, Freeman White in 2006, Ryuzo Nishida in 2004 and Marianne Muggeridge in 2002 and 2000.

This year, for the first time in the history of the competition, an artist has been selected to be a judge, shortlist the entries and decide on the finalists and the winner. Renowned street artist Askew (Elliot O’Donnell) will join Associate Professor Linda Tyler, responsible for museums and cultural heritage at the University of Auckland.

“We are delighted to have an artist on board as a judge for the first time. Covid has certainly given things a twist, which means everyone needs to get creative and try new things. I am delighted to see what lies ahead for 2022, ”says Jaenine Parkinson, director of the New Zealand Portrait Gallery.

The winner of the competition and recipient of a cash prize of $ 20,000 will be selected by the judges at the start of the public exhibition featuring the works of all the finalists. An additional prize of $ 2,500 will be awarded to the finalist as well as another prize of $ 2,500 for People’s Choice, awarded at the end of the exhibition.

Entries close on Thursday March 24, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. and the winner will be announced on Wednesday May 25, 2022. The exhibition will be on display at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakata in Hangar 11 on Wellington’s waterfront at 27 May to August 14, 2022 before nationwide tour.

Registration forms and further information are available at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery or online at http://www.nzportraitgallery.org.nz/portraits-online/adam-portraiture-award.