The Adam Portraiture Award is New Zealand’s premier portraiture prize. Supported by the Adam Foundation this biennial award highlights the power of portraiture and celebrates New Zealanders and the portrait painters who depict them.
This touring exhibition showcases the 38 artworks shortlisted from hundreds of entries by judges, Wellington-based painter Karl Maughan, and Linda Tyler, convenor of Museums and Cultural Heritage at the University of Auckland.
The winning artist receives $20,000 and the winning artwork becomes part of the New Zealand Portrait Gallery’s permanent collection. The Second Prize winner and People’s Choice Award winner each receive $2,500.
Percy Thomson Gallery will be the only stop in Taranaki for this nationwide touring exhibition.
Winner
Jessica Gurnsey, Lady Day, 2021, Acrylic on canvas (self-portrait)
Jessica Gurnsey is an 18 year old artist from Wellington, now based in Auckland. She is currently studying at Elam School of Fine Arts. Jessica is the youngest winner in the history of the Adam Award.
“We were impressed how detailed and revealing this image is of the sitter who reaches out to the viewer as she strikes a pose for the camera in her friend’s bedroom. She has introduced a detailed view of the bedroom where you can make out photographs and album covers for Lou Reed, Oasis, Talking Heads as well as colourful bedding and cherry red Doc Martens. This is an assured painting which is both compelling and rewards close study.”— Judges comment
Runner Up
Gwyn Hughes INK - 'The CREATIVE SOUL' 2022 Oil on board (Rosie Edwards)
Gwyn Hughes has been painting professionally since the early 80’s. He moved to Christchurch from Wales and specializes in South Island landscapes. Gwyn was the People’s Choice Award winner in the 2020 Adam Award.
“This work concentrates on the elements of the subject’s clothing and stance which communicate her pride in her culture and her own mana. The result is an iconic image of a Māori wāhine: the moko kauae, kaitaka and glowing paua shell eye of the black whakairo behind give power and presence to a memorable portrait.”— Judges comment
Highly Commended
Sacha Lees, See Me, 2022, oil on board 1025 x 1025 mm
Jessie Rawcliffe. Richard, 2022 Oil on board 340 x 340 mm
Jasmine Middlebrook. Hold Your Horses, 2022. Oil on canvas 600 x 800 mm
Raewyn Helms-Davis, Kahu and the carver, 2021. Pastel on Colorfix pastel paper 970 x 770 mm
Elise de Silva. Mum! Can we go to the Panmure Pools? 2022. Watercolour on paper 600 x 900 mm
Finalists
*Artworks listed are included in Percy Thomson Gallery's stop on the tour.
Hayley Elliott-Kernot. Holly and Sara – A Family Portrait, 2022 Oil on canvas 2000 x 1300 mm
Toni Armstrong. Steve Chadwick, 2020. Oil on linen 1080 x 730 mm
Fiona Barclay, The Green man, 2022 Gouache, acrylic and opil on canvas 350 x 280 mm
Sam Balzer. Doomscrolling, 2022 Oil on wood 400 x 500 mm
Helene Bizouerne. Presence, 2020 Acrylic and oil on canvas 1016 x 760 mm
Jana Branca. Debs, 2021 Oil on canvas 558 x 712 mm
Katie Blundell. Navel-gazing, 2022 Acrylic painting on board 720 x 1300 mm
Stephen Martyn Welch. One night, one mirror and a cpl of bourbons, 2020. Oil on canvas. 400 x 300 mm
Bill Burke. Marlborough Man, Peter Yealands, 2021 Oil on canvas 1200 x 1050 mm
Rafael de Armas. The New Thought, 2020 Oil on canvas 535 x 435 mm
Louise Dench. The Three Aviators, 2021 Acrylic on canvas 610 x 510 mm
Lisa DeVries. Tyler – In the shadows, 2020 Oil on canvas 760 x 1020 mm
Christine Fowler. Self-Portrait with Bruce, 2021 Oil on canvas 1240 x 940 mm
Lynnlie Gallagher. Rawhide, 2022 Acrylic on canvas 1217 x 908 mm
Stephen Lawrie. Husbands, Fathers, Friends, 2022 Acrylic on canvas 1016 x 2070 mm
Natalie Gelder. At the end of the day, 2021 Oil on board 450 x 300 mm
Rebecca Hart. Portrait of my father sleeping, 2022 Acrylic on 100% cotton rag paper 800 x 590 mm
Marcel Kalma. Kickboxer, 2022 Oil on board 900 x 600 mm
Kate MacIntyre. Hapimana Gilbert Whareāhuru (Ngāti Tara, Ngāti Maringi, Ngāti Uenuku), 2021 Oil on canvas 700 x 550 mm
Hugh Major. Judy, 2021 Oil on canvas 910 x 1010 mm
Nyle Major. Hughmorous Majorious, 2022 Oil on canvas 1200 x 600 mm
Victoria McNaughton. Connection, 2022 Acrylic reverse painted on glass 500 x 620 mm
Amanda Moore. Math Tutor, 2022 Oil on canvas 510 x 410 mm
Joan Pullan. Tope Oluboyede, 2021 Oil on canvas 920 x 610 mm
Sierra Roberts. Mum, 2022 Acrylic on panel 1100 x 1100 mm
Jacqueline Spencer-McLeod. She Papatūānuku Force, 2021 Oil, silver and gold leaf on canvas 1000 x 760 mm
Clark Rowarth. Sad Cowboy, 2021 Oil on canvas 500 x 500 mm
Dean Trembath. The Bengali Fern, 2020 Oil on canvas 500 x 1000 mm
Patrick Urlich. Rachel, 2021 Acrylic on board 785 x 630 mm
Ashton Wastney. Fig. 39, 2022 Oil on linen 570 x 470 mm
Freeman White. Self-Portrait from life, 2020 Oil on panel 380 x 310 mm
