"Our aim is to form long term relationships with promising artists to help with developing their ‘collectability’,” says gallery owner, Tamzin Lovell Miller. “The competition thus requires submission of a minimum of five artworks from a body of work. This enables us to see if the artists could produce a successful solo show.”

Winners stand to benefit from:

- A winners group exhibition at the Lovell Gallery,
- A solo show and representation by the gallery for one year for the two overall winners,
- Exclusive preview exposure to collectors prior to exhibitions, and active marketing thereafter,
- Exposure in the media,
- Professional art management and marketing advice and assistance.

Marinda Swartz, one of the 2011 competition winners, said, “Being one of the artists selected for the Lovell Gallery Artist Competition has been very enriching. It afforded me the opportunity to share my work not only with the public but also fellow artists. To get objective opinions and feedback on your work is wonderful and encouraging. Exhibiting your work also motivates any artist to keep creating. Putting all the works together for my solo exhibition I proved to myself that I can deliver and that art is my great joy and passion. The exposure in the Art Times is of great value and selling works to collectors and people who have an appreciation and love for art is our goal as artists. It was also fantastic to see the exhibitions of my fellow competitors and artist and to meet them. The Lovell Gallery has been very professional and easy to work with and I would encourage all artists who want to enter their work in the competition to enter works of high standard and quality. I am looking forward to see great new emerging artist and their works for this competition that will keep growing with the future.”

The 2012 Artist Competition is now open and entries must be in by 30 April. Winners will be announced in the press and on the gallery website by end of May.

Applications in any visual arts medium, two or three dimensional, are welcome provided the artist presents a cohesive body of at least five original artworks of the same style or concept. Entry is by email and costs R50 per artwork.

To enter or request more information, detailed competition rules or an entry form, please contact Brendon at [email protected] or call 021 820 5505 or pop in to the gallery at 139 Albert Rd, Woodstock, Cape Town.