News | Hunting Art Prize
MICHAEL TOLE AWARDED 2007 HUNTING ART PRIZE
HOUSTON— Hunting PLC announced tonight that Untitled (Woman) by Michael Tole is the winner of the $50,000 Hunting Art Prize for 2007.
The piece was selected from among 104 final jury participants for the 27th annual award, which is sponsored by the oil services company and is among the most generous in the country. The announcement came during an awards gala Saturday night at the Decorative Center of Houston.
Tole’s artwork has been exhibited in galleries and shows throughout Texas, including Dallas, Austin, and Nacogdoches. Next month his newest show, Faberge Paintings, will appear at the Conduit Gallery in Dallas.
The Conduit Gallery previously exhibited another of his collections, I Think I Prayed for You to Come, but wasn’t Prepared for the Reality, which evaluated the unintentional relationships that exist between intentionally placed objects.
Tole recently received the 2006 Arch and Anne Kimbrough Award, presented by the Dallas Museum of Art, where he also works with artists of all levels in a sketching program.
“This is a real honor,” he said after the announcement. “I appreciate the award itself, but also the respect and recognition it brings. A competition like this can provide a lot of potential exposure – both for the winners and for the participants – and that has a hugely positive effect on the arts community and the people who are critical to its vitality.”
The Hunting Art Prize was open to amateur, up-and -coming, and established artists in Texas who were 18 or older. Submissions underwent a two-tiered jury process, after which Untitled (Woman) was selected as the winner.
The competition moved to Houston, where Hunting’s North American headquarters are located, last year after a quarter century in the United Kingdom.
About SIRE
SIRE provides hands-on equestrian classes and activities to advance the lives of people with disabilities. For over 22 years, the organization has offered programs for children and adults with physical and cognitive disabilities, sensory impairments, and psychosocial disorders. For further information, visit www.sire-htec.org
About Hunting PLC
Hunting PLC is an international oil services company providing support solutions to the world’s largest oil and gas concerns. Established in 1874, it is a fully listed public company, traded on the London Stock Exchange. For further information, visit www.hunting.plc.uk. For more information on the Hunting Art Prize, visit www.huntingartprize.com.
