Destination: world for Wallace Art Award winner

By LINDA HERRICK

When Judy Millar graduated from Elam Art School 20 years ago, she made a living inserting wands into mascara tubes, potting plants and running restaurants.

This weekend, the 44-year-old Aucklander - now a painting lecturer at Elam - was announced paramount winner in the prestigious annual Wallace Art Awards. She received $20,000 cash, a residency in London plus air tickets, and a Terry Stringer trophy.

Millar's 3m x 2m oil and acrylic painting Big Pink Shimmering One was picked from a total of 94 finalists by judges Dick Frizzell, Nancy de Freitas and Professor Michael Dunn. Grant Whibley and Sarah Munro, also of Auckland, were each given the emerging artist award, while the special jury prize went to Liz Coats of Wanganui.

The awards were presented by Dame Catherine Tizard on Saturday at Auckland Museum, which will host an exhibition by 34 of the finalists until October 2, before moving on to Massey University in Wellington.

Millar flew to San Francisco yesterday to work with German artist Katerina Grosse, with whom she is exhibiting in Sydney early next year. She is also taking research leave from Elam next year to work in Berlin.

"I never got taken to art galleries as a child," said Millar, who grew up on the North Shore. "The thought of being an artist was totally out of my hemisphere. And at art school 20 years ago, we had no idea of being able to earn a living out of it. It is a completely different situation now."

Previous winners of the Wallace Awards, established by James Wallace 11 years ago, include Jenny Dolezel, Fatu Feu'u, Bill Hammond, Bing Dawe and Peter Gibson Smith. All works remain in the care of the Wallace Trust, which has built a collection of nearly 3000 items.