The finalists in the second Rick Amor Drawing Award exhibition are Kylie Blackley, Moira Burke, Carmel Byrne, Philip Cooper, Matthew Clarke, W.H.Chong, Yvonne East, Linda Fardoe, Harry Hay, Ian Hay, Barbie Kjar, James Money, Susan Morse, Adam Nudelman, Catherine O’Donnell, Massimo Palombo, Ignacio Rojas, Claire Sheperd, Mary Tonkin, Caroline Walls, Michelle Zuccolo and Vivien Gaston.

Worth $20,000, the award was established by artist Rick Amor to promote the practice of drawing in contemporary Australian art. Amor has said that ‘this prize gives people one more reason to keep drawing on paper… the most direct and intimate expression of an artist’s sensibility.’

McClelland director, Lisa Byrne, says the biennial exhibition helps us see important aspects of contemporary art practice in a new light. ‘Drawing has traditionally been used for preparatory sketches and studies ahead of finished paintings or sculptures. This Award demonstrate the vibrancy of drawing practice as exciting media in its own right, full of invention and experimentation.’

Rick Amor was born in Frankston and has drawn and painted the area many times over the course of his artistic career. This acquisitive award will be granted to an outstanding original drawing, which will become part of the McClelland collection.