Biennale Artist Awarded New York Residency

Creative New Zealand media release

10 November 2009

Judy Millar, one of the New Zealand artists currently exhibiting at the 2009 Venice Biennale, has been awarded the Creative New Zealand Visual Arts Residency in New York.

This biennial opportunity, first offered to established New Zealand artists in 2000, is hosted by the New York International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP) ,which made the final selection from a shortlist of three, provided by Creative New Zealand.

"ISCP found the quality of all the short listed applications very high," said Creative New Zealand Chief Executive, Stephen Wainwright.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for the continued development for a New Zealand visual artist while also increasing American awareness of New Zealand art and artists."

The residency will provide Millar with a multi-faceted environment providing the unique opportunity to import her own visual language to the American market. Many of the 500 international artists and curators who have participated in the programme are now represented by New York galleries and have been included in group exhibitions and projects across the United States.

Millar said that presenting her work at the 2009 Venice Biennale had put her in contact with a number of people around the world keen to know more about what she is up to.

"The Biennale has also brought a new charge of energy to my work. n New York is still one of the most vital centres in the world and being there will enable me to keep all of the positives from Venice.

"I have plans and models for a number of new dream projects, so I'll be developing these further during the residency and seeing what I can do to get them realised.. I'm absolutely excited to have the opportunity to return to New York, the city I find the most stimulating of anywhere."

Judy Millar is proposing to examine her practice in light of the split that took place as Abstract Expressionism gave way to Pop Art and Conceptual modes of practice by studying the collections of New York School painting housed in major New York museums.

The assessors agreed that Judy was in a strong position to continue developing key relationships in America, building on her existing international profile.

The residency runs from February 1 to May 31, 2010. Creative New Zealand provides a per diem towards accommodation and travel costs.

Previous recipients include Ronnie van Hout (2000), Lisa Crowley (2002), Chris Braddock (2004), Gavin Hipkins (2006) and Sriwhana Spong (2008).

ENDS

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