Max Mara Art Prize for Women 2011

Max Mara holding up sign saying ’Ideally This Sign Would Take You In Its Arms’
Laure Prouvost, the winner of this year’s Max Mara Art Prize for Women, photographed with one of her artworks, entitled ’Ideally This Sign Would Take You In Its Arms’, 2010. Born in 1978 in Croix-Lille, France, London-based Prouvost, whose work includes film, performance and installation art, was chosen from a shortlist of five artists for her ’gripping short films and intriguing environments’
(Image credit: TBC)

The winner of the fourth Max Mara Art Prize for Women was announced last night at the Italian Embassy in London. Laure Prouvost, whose work includes film, performance and installation art, was chosen from a shortlist of five artists for her 'gripping short films and intriguing environments'. The prize, awarded in collaboration with the Whitechapel Gallery, serves to promote female artists based in the United Kingdom.

As part of the biannual prize, which was established by the Maramotti family (who own the Max Mara brand), Prouvost will now embark on a two-part six month residency in Italy - splitting her time between the American Academy in Rome and the Pistoletto Foundation in Biella.

Featured in W*105, artist Michaelangelo Pistoletto's foundation, known officially as the Cittadellarte, is one part multi-disciplinary art school, one part Utopian community and one part ideas laboratory. It is founded on Pistoletto's belief that art should impact every aspect of society.

Max Mara has a long tradition of supporting the arts. The brand, founded by Achille Maramotti, even has its own art museum; the Maramotti Collection in northern Italy's Reggio Emilia, as seen in W*120, houses an impressive collection of artworks.

Whitechapel Gallery director Iwona Blazwick said that one of the prizes aims is to 'promote a strong relationship' between the fashion brand, the winning artist and the gallery across Europe. Blazwick once again presided over this year's judging panel - comprising the 'gate keepers of the art world,' as she puts it. Among the judges were Lisa Milroy; collector Muriel Salem; gallerist Amanda Wilkinson and critic and lecturer Gilda Williams, who all spent 'a glorious day' discussing the shortlist of five artists (a departure from last year's shortlist of three). The four runners up are Spartacus Chetwynd, Christina Mackie, Avis Newman and Emily Wardill.

Prouvost, speaking candidly at the awards ceremony of her win, said: 'Thank you to England for adopting me and Italy for inviting me'. Following the six month stint, the French-born London-based artist will show her resulting work at the Maramotti Collection and the Whitechapel Gallery in 2013.

Photo of a man with "In his anger the images were burning" in front of him

Still from ’It, Heat, Hit’ digital video by Laure Prouvost, 2010

Courtesy of the artist; Motinternational

(Image credit: TBC)

Man writing a letter with ink

Still from ’The Wanderer (Betty Drunk)’ digital video by Laure Prouvost, 2011

Courtesy of the artist; Motinternational

(Image credit: TBC)

Lady and man talking

Still from ’The Wanderer (Betty Drunk)’ digital video by Laure Prouvost, 2011

Courtesy of the artist; Motinternational

(Image credit: TBC)

"Unfortunately we are in this room and not with those people" on black sign

Still from ’Monolog’ digital video by Laure Prouvost, 2008

Courtesy of the artist; Motinternational

(Image credit: TBC)

Hand pointing

Still from ’The Artist’ digital video by Laure Prouvost, 2010

Courtesy of the artist; Motinternational

(Image credit: TBC)

Three ladies in bikinis with Jabba the Hutt

’An Evening with Jabba the Hutt’, The Intentional 3, Manchester by shortlisted artist Spartacus Chetwynd, 2003

(Image credit: TBC)

Multiple side panels on wheels

’The Folding House’ by Spartacus Chetwynd

Photograph by Spartacus Chetwynd

(Image credit: Spartacus Chetwynd)

Clay grey hippo sculpture

’Figure 1’ by shortlisted artist Christina Mackie, 2007

Courtesy of the artist; Herald Street Gallery

(Image credit: TBC)

Abstract patch work painting with different colours

’Sculpture of an idea of a painting of you’ (detail) by Christina Mackie, 2009

Courtesy of Herald Street Gallery

(Image credit: TBC)

Beige material hanging with cut outs

’Shaded’ by Christina Mackie, 2000

Courtesy of Herald Street Gallery

(Image credit: TBC)

Man laying on the floor with axe in his head

Still from ’Game Keepers without Game’ video projection by shortlisted artist Emily Wardill, 2009

Courtesy of the artist; Jonathan Viner, London

(Image credit: TBC)

Silhouette of two people with purple background

’Basking in what feels like an ocean of grace I soon realise that I am not looking at it but rather that I am it, recognising myself’ by Emily Wardill, 2006

(Image credit: TBC)

Variety of different canvas' on white background

’Beyond the speed of sound’, by shortlisted artist Avis Newman, 2007-2009

Courtesy of the artist

(Image credit: TBC)
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