Richard Wright wins the prestigious 2009 Turner Prize
2009 Turner Prize
Edinburgh Art Festival congratulates Richard Wright and the Ingleby Gallery
Richard Wright in the Dean Gallery where he will make a new painting for the 2010 EAF
“Richard Wright is a worthy winner of the Turner Prize,” says EAF Director Joanne Brown. “We are delighted that the calibre of his work has been recognised in the award of this prestigious prize. Congratulations also to Edinburgh’s acclaimed Ingleby Gallery whose exhibition of Wright’s work led to his nomination for the Prize. ”
Earlier in 2009 Richard Wright was awarded an EAF commission to create a new work for the Dean Gallery (Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art). Wright will be given access to the two stairwells of Thomas Hamilton’s Dean Orphan Hospital to make a painting which will be unveiled as part of the 2010 Edinburgh Art Festival.
“The Edinburgh Art Festival is a key platform for the capital’s galleries and artists,” adds Brown. “Although the Festival does not curate exhibitions we support the galleries and artists who make and show work. We are delighted that a grant from the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund has allowed us to support the commission of this exciting new work by Richard Wright which promises to be one of the highlights of the 2010 EAF.”
Speaking at the time of the Expo announcement Keith Hartley, Chief Curator and Depute Director of the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, commented:
“Ever since Richard Wright made two exquisite, but ephemeral wall paintings for our exhibition Correspondences: Art from Scotland and Berlin in 1997,we have wanted to have a permanent painting by the artist in one of our Gallery buildings. When the opportunity came to apply for EAF Expo funding to commission Richard to make a major painting in the Dean Gallery, we seized the opportunity eagerly. We are delighted that we were successful in being selected and look forward to working with the artist and the Edinburgh Art Festival in the coming months.”
The sixth Edinburgh Art Festival will open on 29 July 2010 running until 5 September.