Rotorua-based artist Jamie Pickernell has won the McConnell Family Supreme Award for his sculpture Keep, which is on display now at Sculpture in the Gardens.
Jamie has featured at four of the five Sculpture in the Gardens exhibitions, where his pieces always prove popular.
Popular with the people
He won the People’s Choice Award twice in a row, with Bird Lady (2011/2012) and Oh Crabby, I do believe we’re rather lost! (2013/2014).
Bird Lady was so adored that The Friends of the Auckland Botanic Gardens bought her to remain in the gardens for good.
Engagement is important
Creating works that visitors can engage with is a passion for Jamie, and he loves the public interaction that Sculpture in the Gardens invites.
“To have it out there, and for people to enjoy your work is really the appeal, and this show runs for three months – so it doesn’t get better than this.”
International success
Jamie also makes art as furniture, and his works appear in private collections in New Zealand and around the world. He has two pieces in Te Papa Tongarewa, Museum of New Zealand’s permanent furniture collection.
With Keep, Jamie visualised a large and finely balanced sculpture, leaving its purpose and function open for viewer’s interpretation.
“I love stone very much and like to celebrate that fact any chance I get."
"Put ’em all together and what have you got? . . . I’d rather leave that to the viewer to ponder,” he says.
This $10,000 non-acquisitional Supreme Award was selected by the independent curatorial panel of Rachel de Lambert, Richard Mathieson and Linda Tyler.
“This prestigious award is a great recognition from industry professionals that I’m on the right track and reaching a wide range of people,” Jamie said.
