Aimia | AGO Photography Prize announces 2014 winner
U.S. Photographer Lisa Oppenheim receives $50,000 prize
TORONTO, Oct. 29, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ – The 2014 Aimia | AGO Photography Prize has been awarded to Lisa Oppenheim of the U.S., it was announced at a
special reception held at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) this evening. Oppenheim, who is based in New York, was selected by
public vote to receive the $50,000 CAD prize in addition to a six-week,
fully funded residency in Canada in early 2015.
Runners-up David Hartt (Canada); Elad Lassry (Israel/USA); and Nandipha Mntambo (South Africa) each also receive a six-week residency as well as $5,000
to support their artistic practices.
Lisa Oppenheim was born in 1975 in New York City, where she lives and works.
Oppenheim’s photographs and videos, including those that are a part of
the Aimia | AGO Photography Prize 2014 Exhibition, are composed of images and materials from the recent and not-so-recent
past that she re-processes and transforms through various historical
and contemporary techniques. Her process often begins online, where she
sources images and objects that she reinterprets photographically using
both analogue and digital technologies. Through this approach, the
process itself becomes source material, as Oppenheim gives photographic
images new forms and new contexts. Recent solo exhibitions include Forever is Composed of Nows, Kunsterverin in Hamburg; From Abigail to Jacob (Works 2004-2014), Kunstverein in Graz; and Heaven Blazing into the Head, The Approach Gallery, London. Oppenheim graduated with an MFA from The
Milton Avery Graduate School for the Arts at Bard College in 2002.
The shortlist was announced on Aug. 13, 2014, after being selected by an
international jury comprising lead juror Sophie Hackett, the AGO’s associate curator of photography; Okwui Enwezor, Nigerian-born, German-based scholar, curator, writer and director of
Haus der Kunst, Munich; and New York-based photo and video artist Laurie Simmons. Voting began that same day at AimiaAGOPhotographyPrize.com, within the travelling Aimia AGO Photography Prize Art Truck and on the Prize’s Facebook page. The public also had the opportunity to vote at the AGO inside the Aimia | AGO Photography Prize 2014 Exhibition, which remains on view at the AGO until Jan. 5, 2015.
“The Aimia | AGO Photography Prize is truly unique amongst international
art prizes,” said Matthew Teitelbaum, director and CEO of the AGO. “It is particularly exciting to award this
prize to Lisa Oppenheim, because it represents a groundswell of public
engagement with contemporary photography. Offering our public a strong
voice is something we are very proud to do. I offer my sincere
congratulations to Lisa and to all of the shortlisted artists.”
“We are delighted to see our partnership with the AGO, now in its
seventh year, continue to inspire a public dialogue within Canada about
contemporary photography through the prize,” said Vince Timpano, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canada, Aimia. “Aimia is
committed to supporting the arts in Canada, and we are proud that the
2014 Aimia | AGO Photography Prize was able to provide a positive
platform for all four artists, especially at such a pivotal moment in
their careers. Our heartfelt congratulations go out to each of them.”
Previous winners of the Aimia | AGO Photography Prize include Canada’s
Erin Shirreff (2013), Jo Longhurst of the U.K. (2012), Gauri Gill
of India (2011), Canada’s Kristan Horton (2010), Marco Antonio
Cruz of Mexico (2009) and Canada’s Sarah Anne Johnson (2008).
The Aimia | AGO Photography Prize is Canada’s most significant award for contemporary photography,
recognizing photographers from around the world whose work has
exhibited extraordinary potential over the preceding five years. It has
a total annual prize value of more than $100,000, with $50,000 awarded
to the winner, $5,000 awarded to each of the other shortlisted artists
and $25,000 supporting a national scholarship program for students
studying photography at select institutions across Canada. The
remainder funds six-week residencies for the four shortlisted artists
at institutions across Canada. For more information and updates about
the Aimia | AGO Photography Prize, please visit AimiaAGOPhotographyPrize.com and follow @AimiaAGOPrize on Twitter.
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ABOUT AIMIA
Aimia, a global leader in loyalty management, has adopted two
fundamental principles of loyalty, trust and reciprocity, as the
pillars of its global social purpose – to create mutually-beneficial
partnerships that leave a lasting impact in our communities. As an
enthusiastic patron of the Arts, Aimia supports many Canadian and
International arts and culture initiatives through donations,
sponsorships and employee volunteer activities. Aimia has supported
several Canadian cultural organizations including the Art Gallery of
Ontario, Art Canada Institute, Business for the Arts, Canadian Art
Foundation, the Design Exchange, the Vancouver Art Gallery, the
National Gallery of Canada, Luminato Festival, the Walrus Foundation
and Canada’s presentation at the International Art and Architecture
Venice Biennale since 2006. Aimia is proud to engage in a dialogue
around the arts through the Aimia l AGO Photography Prize and
scholarship program, and through our office art installations in
Montreal and Toronto. Visit us at www.aimia.com to learn more.
ABOUT THE AGO
With a collection of more than 80,000 works of art, the Art Gallery of Ontario is among the most distinguished art museums in North America. From the
vast body of Group of Seven and signature Canadian works to the African
art gallery, from the cutting-edge contemporary art to Peter Paul
Rubens’ masterpiece The Massacre of The Innocents, the AGO offers an incredible art experience with each visit. In 2002
Kenneth Thomson’s generous gift of 2,000 remarkable works of Canadian
and European art inspired Transformation AGO, an innovative
architectural expansion by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry that in
2008 resulted in one of the most critically acclaimed architectural
achievements in North America. Highlights include Galleria Italia, a
gleaming showcase of wood and glass running the length of an entire
city block, and the often-photographed spiral staircase, beckoning
visitors to explore. The AGO has an active membership program offering
great value, and the AGO’s Weston Family Learning Centre offers
engaging art and creative programs for children, families, youth and
adults. Visit ago.net to find out more about upcoming special exhibitions, to learn about
eating and shopping at the AGO, to register for programs and to buy
tickets or memberships.
The Art Gallery of Ontario is funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of
Tourism, Culture and Sport. Additional operating support is received
from the City of Toronto, the Canada Council for the Arts and generous
contributions from AGO members, donors and private-sector partners.
The AGO acknowledges the generous support of Aimia, Signature Partner of the Photography Collection Program and Founding
Partner of the Aimia | AGO Photography Prize.
SOURCE AIMIA
Image with caption: “Aimia AGO Photography Prize Winner Lisa Oppenheim (CNW Group/AIMIA)”. Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141029_C9228_PHOTO_EN_43139.jpg
Contact:
For media inquiries, images or interview requests, please contact:
Daniel St. Germaine
Arts & Communications
dstgermaine@artscom.ca I 416.966.3421 x 201
Sabrina Bhangoo
Aimia
Sabrina.Bhangoo@aimia.com I 647.329.5123
Caitlin Coull
Art Gallery of Ontario
Caitlin_Coull@ago.net I 416.979.6660 x 364