28th Gold Coast International
CERAMIC ART AWARD

AND THE WINNER IS


LEISA RUSSELL
Lives and works on the Gold Coast, QLD
11 shades of blue  2011
porcelain and pure silk
100 x 42 x 23cm

Local artist Leisa Russell has been awarded the 28th Gold Coast International Ceramic Art Award of $10,000 with the work subsequently entering the Gold Coast City Gallery Collection.

The winning piece, 11 shades of blue, constructed from porcelain and pure silk managed to edge out the other contenders in a selection that demonstrates the outstanding quality of contemporary ceramic art practice.

On the winning piece, this year’s judge, Dr Kevin Murray, commented:

“11 shades of blue is an exquisitely made and imaginatively conceived work. It is a most intriguing play of history, nature, gender, colour and craft. The blue dress made of porcelain coins is marvellously left field, yet masterly at the same time.”

This intricately beautiful dress features over 4,500 porcelain coins slip cast using four Australian shillings from 1959 to 1962. The era of the coins is echoed in the 1960s fashionable shift dress.

Judge Kevin Murray remarked on the quality of the exhibition, and the role that art awards have in the development of artistic practice; “it is testament to the importance of exhibitions like the Gold Coast International Ceramic Art Award that it enables works like (11 shades of blue) to come to light.”

In addition to Leisa Russell’s piece, the following works will be acquired for the Gold Coast City Gallery Collection:

L to R: Eunkyoung Moon-Back, Land crossing  2012 / David Ray, Team  2010 / Sándor Somogyi, Connection 2011 / Honor Freeman, Scrapings and gratings  2011

Exhibition continues until 14 October.