NZ Artist in prestigious Australian arts selection

New Zealand portrait artist John Badcock is among a select group of Australasian artists who have made it into the Salon Des Refuses: alternative Archibald and Wynne Prize Selection in Sydney. This is a massive accomplishment for a New Zealand-based artist. John is included with such names as Adam Cullen, Nicholas Harding, and Wendy Sharpe who are all previous winners of the Archibald Award.

The successful portrait is titled The Watercolourist and is of an artist friend of Badcock's, Paul Hanrahan.

"Paul is a friend who I have known for many years. He is the kind of guy that always makes a great portrait. Sitters will express emotions in numerous ways, sometimes the hands tell the story, occasionally the shoulders say it all, but with Paul it is all in the face. His wrinkles read like a song sheet, a selection of notes that whistle to the tune of his life", reads John's statement about the painting.

John is well known in New Zealand art circles for his highly successful exhibition Passing People, which opens this month in Rotorua after two years of travel through New Zealand Public Galleries.

This success in Australia will put John into a league of his own in New Zealand portraiture. It appears to be the first time a New Zealand-based painter has made it into either the Archibald or the Refuses exhibition.

For More information on the Salon Des Refuses visit: http://www.nsw.nationaltrust.org.au/properties/gallery/exhibitions/salon/d efault.asp

For more information on John Badcock visit: www.badcock.co.nz

ENDS

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