Evening Standard Contemporary Art Prize: Helen A Pritchard's abstract 'love letter to London' wins £10k prize

The South African-born artist's painting beat over 200 other works to the £10k prize
Robert Dex @RobDexES20 June 2018

Painter Helen A Pritchard has won the first ever Evening Standard Contemporary Art Prize, run in association with Hiscox.

The South African-born artist was presented with her £10,000 prize at an event at the National Gallery tonight for her work To Make a Sculpture.

They were asked to create a work inspired by a single-word brief — London — and Ms Pritchard said her work represented the “exciting city full of opportunity” she moved to 20 years ago.

She also won insurance for a year from Hiscox and a lifetime National Art Pass, as well as the prize money, which she will use to pursue her art career.

Winner Helen A Pritchard with Evening Standard Arts Editor William Moore
Nigel Howard

The 42-year-old from Brixton said: “This painting represents a turning point from the traditional way of painting I had observed on growing up in South Africa.

Evening Standard Art Prize in association with Hiscox

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“I was free to explore and experiment with new ideas, using material I found on the streets chosen because of form, texture and colour, elements of abstraction now used in my paintings.”

The jury included artist Idris Khan and critic Matthew Colling and was chaired by Evening Standard Arts Editor William Moore

Winner: Helen A Pritchard's To Make A Sculpture
Matt Writtle

He said: “The judging panel chose the winner from more than 200 entries.

"Each work on the shortlist was a pleasure, but Helen A Pritchard’s To Make a Sculpture, one of the more abstract entries we received, was the work we kept returning to.

"Pritchard’s painting expresses London’s openness and optimism. It is a love letter to the freedoms of this city.”

Robert Read, head of art at Hiscox and a member of the judging panel, praised the “rich and varied” work submitted and thanked his fellow judges. He said: “It is, however, the artists who are the stars.

Evening Standard Contemporary Art Prize in association with Hiscox

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“It takes a huge amount of guts to show a work as an artist — so thank you all for being bold.”