Two leading international artists, Annika Ekdahl (Sweden) and Constanza Guerrero (Chile) have been announced as winners of the small tapestry awards, that showcase the extraordinary creativity and beauty of contemporary tapestry.
Annika Ekdahl (Sweden) has been announced as the winner of the Kate Derum Award for Small Tapestries and Constanza Guerrero (Chile) has been announced as the winner of the Irene Davies Emerging Artist Award for Small Tapestries.
The judges are Emeritus Professor Kay Lawrence AM, School of Art, Architecture & Design, University of South Australia, Dr David Sequeira, Director, VCA Margaret Lawrence Gallery and Antonia Syme Director, Australian Tapestry Workshop.
A total of 146 entries were received – 99 for the Kate Derum Award for Small Tapestries and 47 for the Irene Davies Emerging Artist Award for Small Tapestries. Entries came from 20 countries: Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Latvia, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States of America.
The Kate Derum Award and Irene Davies Emerging Artist Award for Small Tapestries is a biennial international Award that showcases creativity and excellence in international and Australian contemporary small tapestry. They are the most prestigious small tapestry Awards in Australasia.
The Kate Derum Award for Small Tapestries ($5000) is a non-acquisitive Award for established artists. It honours Kate Derum and her significant contribution to tapestry as an artist, weaver, teacher, mentor and former Deputy Director/Studio Manager of the ATW. Generously supported by Susan Morgan, the Award is open to all professional Australian and International tapestry artists.
The Irene Davies Emerging Artist Award for Small Tapestries ($1000) is a non-acquisitive Award for artists in the first five years of their tapestry practice. It was established to support early-career weavers in the first five years of their tapestry practice.
All entries to these Awards are hand-woven tapestry, defined as ‘a weft-faced fabric with discontinuous wefts’ and no bigger than 30cm(h) x 30cm(w) x 2cm(d).
Since its establishment in 1976, the Australian Tapestry Workshop (ATW) has built a worldwide reputation for the creation of contemporary tapestries in collaboration with living artists and architects. During this time the ATW has woven over 500 tapestries, which hang in significant public and private collections both nationally and internationally. Over 43 years this commitment to a collaborative approach has been skilfully developed by the ATW to the highest professional level and is maintained as a constantly evolving creative process. ATW tapestries are known for their vibrancy and technical accomplishment, as well as their innovative experimental interpretations.