Media Release: "Exceptional" Yaganes wins $20,000 2018 Clayton Utz Award

Brisbane, 11 October 2018: Artist Paula Quintela was last night named the winner of the 2018 Clayton Utz Art Award for her mixed-media work, Yaganes.

2018 Award judge Dr Bill Platz ^[1] praised the "extravagant and phantasmagoric" work as "involving the viewer in a contemplation of long-time, deep-place and loss. But it is also a lush work — not at all a tragic work — and it rewards those who spend time with it."

Paula describes Yaganes as exploring her ongoing interest into cultural experiences and connections between time, migration and memory. "From a young age, living in Chile I recognised and identified with the plight and journey of the traditional land owners. The visual cues of body painting, imagery within the ceremonial photographs of rituals, ceremony and dance. These investigations and research into the stories behind the people and places has allowed me to identify an important part of my own personal journey in life, one impassioned from the heart with the memories of my ancestors."

A surprised and delighted Paula accepted her $20,000 prize at a cocktail reception at Clayton Utz's Brisbane premises attended by several of the 41 finalists for the Award, members of Brisbane's arts community, Clayton Utz clients, partners and employees.

Three works were Highly Commended: Annie O'Rourke's Sacrifice in the Wilderness (Lindy Chamberlain Paintings), Verge Collective with Marian Drew's Depth of Field #1, and Christopher Kerley's Evening.

The People's Choice Prize - as voted by Clayton Utz Brisbane partners and employees - was awarded to Alexandra Matthews for her work, Fringe.

Clayton Utz Brisbane partner-in-charge Barry Dunphy said he was thrilled the Award continued to attract such strong support from Queensland's arts community.

"When we first launched the Award in its original form in 2008, we wanted to contribute to Queensland's arts community in a way that would encourage new and emerging talent and showcase their work to a wider audience. I'm blown away each year by the quality and diversity of the entries the Award attracts. We're proud to display the winner's and other finalists' work in our offices for our people and clients to enjoy - the works are always talking points."

The Clayton Utz Art Award is open to Queensland-based artists, or artists with a strong connection to the state.  As of 2018, the prize money on offer has doubled to $20,000.

Clayton Utz would like to again acknowledge and thank Brett Lethbridge of Lethbridge Gallery for his outstanding support in co-ordinating and managing the Clayton Utz Art Award.

^[1]Dr Bill Platz is the Program director of Fine Art, Convenor of Drawing, and Foundations Coordinator at Griffith Queensland College of Art. Dr Platz is currently leading the design and implementation of a reformed first-year Foundations program at QCA.^{Back to article}