Fleur Porter takes out inaugural Australian Stencil Art Prize

Miss Link. Nesting. 24cmx34cm. Spray paint

Surry Hills stencil artist Fleur Porter, aka Miss Link, has taken out the inaugural Australian Stencil Art Prize.

Oh Really Gallery manager, Dan O’Toole described Miss Link as “the next big thing” in stencilling.

With the financial support from Marrickville Council and organised by Jacinta Walpole, the prize recognises the growth of Australia’s exciting street-art scene.

Marrickville Mayor Sam Iskandar announced the winner at Oh Really Gallery. ‘Marrickville Council values the role street art plays in our society,’ Cr Iskandar said.

‘We have been working with art and heritage management consultants to review the street art in the area and many of you will be interested to learn that because of the quality, range and historical depth of Marrickville’s street art, it is now considered a major cultural asset.’

Ms Walpole said, ‘We hope that we can attract a wide variety of people to the stencil exhibition—from art collectors to people who wouldn’t normally go to an art exhibition.’

Other finalists included: E.L.K (Kaleen, ACT), Punkerlily (Brunswick East, VIC), Ralf Kempken (Fitzroy, VIC), 23rd Key (Melbourne, VIC), Doohickey (Erskineville, NSW), Gail Butler (Bondi, NSW), Poncho Army (Mount Saint Thomas, NSW), MOX ( Newtown, NSW), Miss Link (Sydney, NSW), Syke (Newtown, NSW), Louis Georg (Curl Curl, NSW) and Joshua Smith (Adelaide, SA).

The judging panel included contemporary artist James Powditch, internationally renowned stencil artist Vexta, Andrew Mac (Citylights project and Until Never Gallery, Nicholas Fintan (Australian Stencil Art Prize Curator), Fenella Kernebone (Triple J), Satta van Daal (Melbourne Stencil Festival) and Kath Melbourne (Marrickville Council).

Email the artist: flurto[at]hotmail.com

Visit Miss Link’s website

For further information, visit www.australianstencilartprize.com

The exhibition of finalists is currently on show at
Oh Really Gallery
55 Enmore Road, Enmore, Sydney NSW.
12 – 26 March 2009
Open daily from 11am – 6pm