Jaq Grantford (born 1967), also known as Jacqui Grantford, is an Australian artist and writer, known for her portraiture and illustrations of children's books.
Early life and education Jaq Grantford, also known as Jacqui, was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1967.
Career Art
Grantford's portraits include Noni Hazlehurst, Jacki Weaver, Paul Mercurio, Jonathon Welch, physician Catherine Crock, Lior, Ed Le Brocq, and composers Elena Kats-Chernin, and Nigel Westlake.
In 2023 Grantford won the People's Choice in the Archibald Prize.
Her portrait of transgender radio presenter and musician Ed Le Brocq, in which he is (at his request) portrayed as a centaur, called I Am a Centaur, was selected as a 2024 Archibald Prize finalist.
She has also many painted many self-portraits, including a series in which she places herself in famous paintings by other artists, such as Rembrandt, J. M. W. Turner, Gustave Courbet, René Magritte, and Andy Warhol.
Writing In addition to working as a portrait artist and fine artist, Grantford has been publishing books since 2002. A True Person, written by Gabian Marin was one of the 250 outstanding new international books for children and young adults that have been selected for The White Ravens 2008. This book, along with Squeezy Cuddle Dangly Legs written by Peter Whitfield, and Molly's Memory Jar by Norma Spalding have been listed as recommended books in the Family Therapist Awards.
Recognition and awards 2013: People's Choice, Black Swan Prize for Portraiture, for a portrait of Jacki Weaver 2013: Portrait of Jacki Weaver in the Archibald Prize Salon des Refusés 2013: Surrealism Mortimore Art Prize 2014: People's Choice, Black Swan Heritage Awards 2014: Certificate of Excellence, American Society of Portrait Artists 2015: Winner, Master of Art International exhibition, Architecture Award, London 2016: People's Choice, Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award 2016: Honourable Mention, Park Art Fair International, Germany 2016: Winner, Cliftons Art Prize, Melbourne 2018: People's Choice, Black Swan Prize for Portraiture, Art Gallery of Western Australia, for a portrait of drag artist Ken Atherton ("Tootsie") 2018: Best in Show, Gateway International Painting Competition 2019: Winner Kennedy Prize, for her portrait of Ken Atherton 2022: Winner Darling Portrait Prize at the National Portrait Gallery of Australia, for a self-portrait called 2020 2023: Winner Archibald People's Choice for a portrait of Noni Hazlehurst
She has been a finalist in many other awards, sometimes several times, including the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, and the Portia Geach Memorial Award. She is an Associate Living Master of the Art Renewal Center in New Jersey.
Personal life Grantford has two children.
She has been involved in the Melbourne-based charity Hush Foundation, which uses the arts to improve young patients' lives in hospitals, founded by physician Catherine Crock.
Exhibitions Grantford held several solo exhibitions at the Dromkeen Museum of Children's Literature between 2004 and 2010. In 2007, some of her work was displayed in international exhibitions of children's book illustration in Portugal and Slovakia.
Her work was selected for Women Painting Women, an exhibition of portraits held at the Burrinja Cultural Centre in Upwey in Melbourne in 2016 and 2021, and in 2021 she was included in a women's art exhibition at the European Museum of Modern Art in Barcelona, Spain.
Collections Her work is held in the European Museum of Modern Art, the National Gallery of Victoria, the National Portrait Gallery of Australia and many other collections.
Books As writer and illustrator Shoes News, Lothian, 2003 Various Faerious, Lothian, 2002 The Hush Treasure Book, Allen & Unwin, 2016 (Contributor)
As illustrator Nancy Bentleigh, Tracey Hawkins, New Frontier, 2010 Molly's Memory Jar, Norma Spalding, New Frontier, 2010 Thank You Wishes, Kate Wilson, JoJo Publishing, 2009 A True Person, Marrian Gabbin, New Frontier, 2007 Squeezy Cuddle Dangly Legs, Peter Whitfield, New Frontier, 2007 Pemberthy Bear, Sally Murphy, New Frontier, 2005 Wishes For One more Day, Melanie Joy Pastor, Flashlight Press, 2005
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