Show puts spotlight on emerging artists

One of five artworks sold at last year's NZ Art Show by Wellington art student Tyler Jackson, who received one of four 2016 RT Nelson Emerging Artist Awards.

The Emerging Artist Project has been announced as part of the 2017 NZ Art Show.

Ten artists who have excelled in previous shows as participants of the RT Nelson Emerging Artist Award will exhibit in a dedicated gallery space at the show.

Now in its 14th year, the NZ Art Show is New Zealand's largest curated art sale of New Zealand art.

This year's show runs for four days during Queen's Birthday Weekend, leading with a gala opening on Thursday, June 1. The doors will open to the public on Friday, June 2 at the TSB Arena on Wellington's waterfront.

The Emerging Artist Project celebrates the RT Nelson Emerging Artist Award and the artists who have benefited from it since its inception.

The participating artists are in various stages of their art careers and some are completing their art studies, so this exhibition will indicate their progress to date.

The RT Nelson Emerging Artist Award comprises four cash awards of $2500 for four art students studying art at a recognised art school.

In 2012, NZ Art Show and Wellington businessman Richard T Nelson established the Emerging Artist Awards in order to spotlight the talents of artists in the emerging stages of their careers and who are studying for a diploma or degree in visual arts at an established New Zealand art school and to highlight the value of New Zealand's art schools.

The Emerging Artist Award has proven to be one of the NZ Art Show's greatest successes; since the award's inception in 2012 it has increased in popularity with the show's patrons.

For astute collectors, one of the first ports of call at the show is the show's Emerging Artist Award gallery; participants are now regarded as hot property and they enjoy successful exposure and sales.

For the artists, the award and the show has been a gateway to greater opportunities.

Anna-Belle Graham was an award recipient in 2015. Last year she completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts, majoring in painting, at Ilam School of Fine Arts at University of Canterbury.

She says the award contributed to her art-making practice in several ways.

"The award gave me my first standing as an artist and has given me the motivation to keep pushing my art-making practice," she says.

"It has helped me to realise my potential and to validate my ambitions to contribute to our world through making art.

"The gallery setting at the venue allowed me to see my work in a different light compared with the studio and the feedback from the show was invaluable and sparked new ideas and observations.'

Tyler Jackson received the award in 2016. He is completing his Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours at Whiti o Rehua School of Art, Massey University, Wellington.

"Receiving the award was a highlight of my study in fine arts," he says.

"It provided me with a great platform to disseminate my work to more than 10,000 visitors.

"The financial reward was hugely beneficial to my practice, providing material cost for the future.

"It was an extremely successful weekend, with a significant number of conversations taking place with collectors and the public."