About
The Signature Art Prize is the only award of its kind that draws attention to emerging artist’s unique perspective, championing their signature themes and aesthetic – and as such the prize is only open to current students and artist who graduated within the last 3 years.
Founded in 2007, the celebrated Signature Art Prize presents a fresh and exciting award for the most promising emerging artists of today. The competition invites artists worldwide to apply for a chance to win one of four £1,000.00 cash prizes, representation with DegreeArt, future exhibition opportunities and artistic support, as well as gifts from the prize sponsors.
Following the huge success of the awards in 2011, the Signature Art Prize returned in 2012 with the added attraction of cash prizes as well as an opening gala held within a pop-up gallery space in Spitalfield’s Market, and we are now returning again for the 7th year to host the Signature Art Prize 2013/14.
All entries are reviewed by an esteemed panel of industry judges, and shortlisted artists exhibit at the awards night, followed by an extended one-month exhibition at DegreeArt’s Execution Room in the cultural hub of Vyner St, East London
The Signature Art Prize is administered by DegreeArt.com, the UK leader in graduate art representation, showcasing emerging art online, providing collectors with access to original art and supporting recently graduated artists all over the world.
‘Coercive Coalesence’ Josh Bowe, 220 x 300cm
WINNER : PAINTING – JOSH BOWE
Can you tell us more about your work, and what are the main ideas you would like to express?
For every action, a reaction ; from collision, division; from uniform motion, unity. Each body is shown in isolation and lacks both individuality and cosmetic detail, but all respond to the same external, chaotic physical force. This work is symbollic of the the way innate human characteristics are forged into a public persona and – extrapolating further – the way societies are coerced into cohesive units. A collective body is formed ; the figures are intertwined but independent, their hands eternally reaching out. The outer mechanical process of making art (and Freud’s ‘ego’) is reflected in the homologous poses ; the inward contemplative state (Freud’s ‘id’) is represented by the differences in direction
How do you start the process of making art?
On a larger piece, such as Coercive Coalescence, I start by making a number of studies from various reference points, largely using photography as a diving board for my ideas. Then I play around with composition from the sketches I’ve made and begin making rudimentary gestures on the canvas. This tends to be a prolonged process, and can get with convoluted before the finished painting reveals itself.
Do you consider the viewer?
I doubt that its possible not to consider the viewer, there are just varying sensitivities to the viewer.
What is your favourite London Art Gallery?
DegreeArt’s gallery of course, but closely followed by The Tate.
Do you think figurative painting still has relevance within contemporary art today?
I think figurative painting will continue to be contemporary, as its prevalent in nearly all cultures.
Other than painting, what is your favourite medium?
Well if I were to split hairs, then I would say sketching I guess ……but I really do not see a lot of division between painting and sketching.
What defines something as a work of art?
The viewer
Name three artists that have inspired your work.
Frank Auerbach, and Paul Cezanne were gateway artists for, and I suppose if this is cumulative influence, these two artist would be persistently names I would recount. A third would could be Mark Rothko, as I think when you work on increasing scales, the simplicity and boldness of Rothkos work becomes very important in how you deal with larger compositions, in terms of removing unnecessary information, even though the facility to abound in details is widely accessible.
10. Do you have a favourite subject matter? And why?
I wouldn’t say i have a favourite subject matter, but I do return time and again to portraits, although at times I wonder about the pertinence of portrait painting. I think there is still plenty of scope for me to experiment with multiple portraits, although I fear this would cross over in to “Figurative” painting.
11. How will your artistic career change after being voted the ‘people’s choice’ for painting this year?
My ambition is to go full time as an artist, so I’d be over the moon if I could achieve this goal from winning “the People’s Choice Award
www.degreeart.com/users/josh-bowe
WINNER : ILLUSTRATION AND DRAWING : LORENA BALEA-RAITZ
Can you tell us more about your work and what are the main ideas you would like to express?
My work is to illustrate fashion related art. It dives into the surrealistic world of beauty, fashion, accessories and has elements of floral, vegetal and animal elements.
How do you start the process of making work?
I like to find new meaning in old concepts and bring it to life with a new idea. Because my art is fashion related, I do watch the fashion trends, see the colour block, get in touch with the new designs and keep an eye on the fashion season. Once I have a concept like this one with the brother Grimm story The princess and the frog I give it a fashion twist and include fashion elements like the flower crows that was trendy a few years ago and add a fashion product like the Dior Poison perfume bottle and the frog, to complete the story. If I feel that this art piece can say more I can create a mini series out of it. If it’s strong enough it will be one individual piece that can face the world.
What would you say to people who comment that your work
I see my art/illustrations more like Haute Couture on paper.Yes, it is feminine and it;s bold, expressive, colourful and like a paradise bird. My prints are limited edition and the rest are originals like rare fashion pieces. I never categorised my art as “stereotypical feminine”. My art is for everybody who enjoys beautiful delicate things in life.
Do you think fashionable or aesthetic images have relevance in the
Yes, I think they do. The Contemporary art world is open minded and accepts art from every field
Do you envision your works hung in an institution or domestic
Yes, I do. I would be proud to know that my art is appreciated and loved to be hung in an institution and a domestic setting. I do consider the viewer and I like to work with the viewer and do a lot of custom art to make it work with the institution or domestic place.
What defines something as a work of art?
To me everything can be art. It’s something that is unique, that comes from inside you and that you can share with the world and that brings your art closer to people. You share a piece from you with the customer/ buyer.
Name three artists that have inspired your work?
Picasso, Dali and David Downton
What is your favourite London Art Gallery?
DegreeArt because it gives me that possibility to share my art.
Can people commission illustrations from you?
Yes, of course. I would be happy to illustrate for people.
What does it mean to you to have won the ‘people’s choice’ award this
It means a lot to me. It’s the first time that I actually participated in something like that. People’s Choice Award made me understand more what my friends and strangers were actually thinking about my art. To have actually won was great news. I never thought it will happen to me. I wish I could have been there live to see it all happen.
I thank you all for the support and the possibility. it’s an honour to be able to share my art with all of you and to have some recognition and feedback. Thank you very much for the opportunity.
More info on the Signature Art Prize 2013/14 www.signatureartprize.com
