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See MAMA National Photography Prize finalists

Tyler Grace Staring Into The Unknown 2014 Fine Art Giclee Ultrachrome Prin
When
2016-04-26
Author
Murray Art Museum Albury
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More than 100 works by 65 established and emerging photographers are about to be unveiled as finalists in the 2016 MAMA National Photography Prize – one of the oldest, most lucrative, acquisitive photography prizes in Australia.

Works by the exceptional field of finalists will be part of a free exhibition in the Paul Ramsay Galleries from Saturday (21 May) until 7 August.

The winners will be announced Friday night (20 May) and selected works will be acquired for MAMA’s collection. This is also an opportunity for philanthropists to purchase non-acquired works for MAMA. With such a strong focus on contemporary Australian photography, this exhibition presents the perfect opportunity to grow the collection.

A portrait of a young woman wearing a floral dress, the background is covered in pink flowers with green leaves, and she holds a wreath of flowers in front of her face so her eyes, nose and mouth are revealed
Polixeni Papapetrou

Amaranthine, 2016
from the series Eden
Pigment ink prints
Images courtesy the artist and Stills Gallery, Sydney

Two men in suits holding glass cups looking to their left, the viewer's right
Bronek Kozka

Two men looking to their left, 2015
Digital inkjet print
Image courtesy of the artist

A black and white photograph of a shirtless man with giant black ears holding a suitcase walks along a curved road underneath a bridge
Matthew Bird and Phillip Adams

Freeway, 2015
from the series Brasilia
Lustre digital photographic print on photographic paper
Image courtesy of the artist

A portrait of a person with mud on their face covering their mouth and a small red ball stuck to the end of their nose
Karen Donnelly

Shut Up, 2015
Digital print
Image courtesy of the artist

More than 90 works have been acquired by MAMA since the award's inception in 1983, adding to and enriching the museum's superb collection of more than 1000 photographic works.

The award comprises the MAMA Art Foundation National Photography Prize of up to $47,000 and the $3000 John and Margaret Baker Memorial Fellowship, which has been offered since 2000 to provide encouragement and financial assistance to an emerging photographer chosen from the National Photography Prize exhibition.

MAMA Art Foundation Chair Tony Smith said: “Collecting photography is part of MAMA’s DNA. The National Photography Prize not only further strengthens the significance of MAMA’s collection by acquiring works nominated as prize winners, it supports Australian artists and offers regional collectors the chance to purchase and develop their own collections and reinforces the importance of acquiring photographic works that represent and reflect contemporary Australian society.”

 "Significant prizes such as this enable galleries to provide a platform where photographers can work across the full spectrum of the art form and can be showcased side-by-side in a celebration of the strength and diversity of Australian photography."

— Jacqui Hemsley, Director, Murray Art Museum Albury

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