The Biennial Blog

Today’s 2010 festival preview looks at the John Moores Painting Prize, opening at the Walker Art Gallery from 18 September to 3 January 2011.

After recieving almost 3,000 entrants, the John Moores judging panel have shortlisted 45 artists for the exhibition who all have a chance of winning a first prize of £25,000. There are also four runner-up prizes of £2,500 up for grabs, while the popular Visitors’ Choice prize will award its winner £2010.

Now in its 53rd year the competition boasts a roll call of esteemed winners, including David Hockney (1967), Richard Hamilton (1969) and Peter Doig, who described winning the John Moores in 1993 as a pivotal moment in his career.

The 2010 works cover traditional themes of portraiture, landscape, still lifes and abstracts, but their execution and direction are far from old fashioned, proving the vitality and power of painting.

On the judging panel this year are the artists Gary Hume, Goshka Macuga, Ged Quinn and Alison Watt as well as curator / critic Sir Norman Rosenthal.

2010 judges (from L to R) Ged Quinn, Alison Watt, Gary Hume, Goshka Macuga and Sir Norman Rosenthal

For the first time in the history of the competition the announcement of the winner and runner-up prizewinners will be broadcast live online on Thursday 16 September 2010 at http//www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/johnmooreslive

View the full list of shortlisted artists here.

The Walker exhibition follows on from the John Moores Painting Prize China 2010 awarded in Shanghai in August to Han Feng for his entry entitled Big Plane. Alongside Han’s painting, the four runner-up prizewinners from the Chinese competition will be exhibited at the Walker alongside the UK prizewinners.

Behind the scenes video clip from the John Moores 2010 team:

The exhibition is open from 18th September to 3rd January 2011 at the Walker Art Gallery, William Brown Street, L3 8EL from 10am – 5pm. Entry is FREE.

Follow John Moores 2010 on Twitter (#JM2010) and view more videos and images here and here.

Keep an eye on the Biennial blog next Thursday for reaction to the winners announcement!