The Australian winner in M&C Saatchi's Art for Change Prize is Aboriginal artist Clare Jaque Vasque, a weaver from Gomeroi/Kamilaroi nation.
Her work will now be displayed at the Saatchi Gallery in London.
M&C Saatchi Group and Saatchi Gallery announced the six regional winners of the annual international art initiative, Art for Change Prize, which invited emerging artists from around the world to creatively respond to the theme of Equality for the chance to win a grand prize of £10,000.
The six regional winners were selected from more than 2,500 entries in 130 countries:
- Australia – Clare Jaque Vasquez from Queensland, Australia for her work The Hunter & Gatherer
- Africa – Samuel Nnorom from Nsukka, Nigeria for his work After the Pandemic
- Americas – Rachel Zhang from Pennsylvania, United States for her works The American Dream and Fruit Market in the Gvnt’s Garden
- Asia – Sharon Cheung from Hong Kong for her Our Time series
- Europe – Jaroslaw Lisicki from Wroclaw, Poland for his works Untitled and We
- UK – Felix Chesher from London, England for this works Proximity and PrEP
The total prize fund of £20,000 will be split between the six regional winners, five to receive £2,000 each and one overall winner, due to be announced December 7, £10,000.
Emma Robbins, national executive creative director at M&C Saatchi Australia, and Art for Change Grand Juror: “It was a privilege to judge for the inaugural Art for Change Prize and to be chaired by Sinta Tantra.
"The finalists were an incredible mix of storytelling, mediums, and techniques that captivated the panel and created some really healthy debate.
"The Australian winner, emerging Aboriginal artist Clare Jaque Vasque from Gomeroi/Kamilaroi nation, used weaving practices in a stunning raised textural form, which Clare created using natural brushes, branches, and sticks to connect the work with Country.
"Her piece looked at equality through the lens of the shifting roles between modern societies and First Nations communities. And her important story will now be told at Saatchi Gallery in London along with those of the other awesome global finalists.”
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