Current exhibiting artist at Milton Keynes Gallery nominated for 2008 Turner Prize

Milton Keynes Gallery has once again been placed firmly on the international art scene as the current exhibiting artist, Cathy Wilkes, was announced today as one of four artists short-listed for this year’s Turner Prize by Tate. This is the second time in two years that a Milton Keynes Gallery exhibitor has been nominated; Phil Collins was also short-listed on the strength of his exhibition here in 2006. The Turner Prize has become widely recognised as one of the most important and prestigious awards for the visual arts in Europe, celebrating new developments in contemporary British art. The Turner Prize award is £40,000 with £25,000 going to the winner and £5,000 each for the other short-listed artists.

Gallery Director Michael Stanley was elated by the news:

We are delighted that Cathy Wilkes has been nominated for this year’s Turner Prize on the strength of her current exhibition at Milton Keynes Gallery. This is a wonderful recognition of the gallery’s commitment to presenting a programme of artistic excellence.

Cathy Wilkes will present work along with the three other short-listed artists in an exhibition at Tate Britain opening on 30 September 2008. The winner will be announced at Tate Britain on 1 December 2008 during a live broadcast by Channel 4. Artists are not judged on their show at Tate Britain – the decision is based on the work they were nominated for.

The current exhibition by Cathy Wilkes continues at Milton Keynes Gallery until 8 June. Admission is free. Her work is arranged in installations – comprising objects from her everyday domestic life. Viewers are invited to think about the associated implications of these objects and apply their own personal meaning to them.

Tomorrow evening on Wednesday 14 May from 7 – 8pm there is a chance to learn more about the artist and her work as artist and curator Jason Bowman discusses Cathy Wilkes’ work with Gill Perry, Professor and Head of Art History at the Open University.

The talk is free but pre-booking is essential on 01908 676900.

Turner Prize 2008 nominees: Runa Islam, Mark Leckey, Goshka Macuga and Cathy Wilkes. Details at www.tate.org.uk/about/pressoffice/pressreleases/.

Why Cathy has been nominated by the Tate: “For her solo exhibition at Milton Keynes Gallery, that showed her personal approach to figurative sculpture. Through rigorous, highly charged arrangements of commonplace objects and materials, Wilkes has developed an articulate and eloquent vocabulary that touches on issues of femininity and sexuality.”

In Conversation

Milton Keynes Gallery, Wednesday 14 May, 7–8pm, free
Artist and curator Jason Bowman will discuss Cathy Wilkes’ work with Gill Perry, Professor and Head of Art History at the Open University.