The Winner of The Graduate Art Prize 2016 is announced

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The Winner of The Graduate Art Prize 2016 is announced

Marley Treloar, a Canadian artist living and working in London and a recent graduate of the University of Gloucestershire, has been named as the winner of The Graduate Art Prize 2016.

Marley Treloar, a Canadian artist living and working in London and a recent graduate of the University of Gloucestershire, has been named as the winner of The Graduate Art Prize 2016, which is co-sponsored by art consultants ARTIQ, together with the London office of global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills. Marley was awarded the £1,000 prize, along with the offer to sign up as an artist with ARTIQ at a prestigious event held this week at Herbert Smith Freehills’ offices, in the heart of the City of London.

Marley Treloar said of her win, ‘I'm absolutely overjoyed at having won The Graduate Art Prize 2016. The experience will be invaluable to me. I'm hoping to work more ambitiously with the help of the prize money and only have positive thoughts as I continue my art career and my art education.’

The winning artwork (see below), selected by public vote from a shortlist of works by 25 artists, is entitled Gardens and looks at the ideas and themes of family bonds through an abstract gaze. Marley explained: ‘My work reflects on nostalgia, history and family values and aims to explore how abstract art is made today and how the foundations of abstract practice informs how contemporary abstract artists work today.’

Helen Buckley, Arts Manager at ARTIQ commented: 'The panel of judges was really impressed by Marley’s theme of family values and by her beautifully-executed figurative painting. Her use of a variety of media in her work shows a maturity and exploration within her practice. We are seeing an increase in engagement and number of votes every year and it is exciting to see the momentum that the prize is gathering, as well as the continued outstanding quality of submissions we are receiving each year.’

The Graduate Art Prize is now in its fourth year and is open to all final-year students on BA and MA degree courses at British art colleges or universities. Its reach and status are growing year on year and it continues to move beyond the major London teaching institutions to colleges and universities from every corner of the UK. This year saw the first ever finalist from Northern Ireland, for example.

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The Graduate Art Prize was first set up by ARTIQ together with Herbert Smith Freehills in 2013, growing out of a pre-existing working relationship, after ARTIQ was commissioned to build an arts strategy for the law firm’s London office, including cataloguing and selling part of the company’s original art collection.

‘We are delighted to be co-sponsoring this event for the fourth year.’ Ian Gatt QC, Head of Advocacy at Herbert Smith Freehills commented. ‘The number and quality of entries continues to rise, with all 25 finalists this year exhibiting an excellent selection of their work. Herbert Smith Freehills is proud to support this competition and to encourage artists at an early point in their career. We believe that art can enrich the working and living environments and also challenges and promotes discussion’.

Gardens, acrylic and cotton thread on canvas, (150x130cm)

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