Marcus Wills wins the 2000
Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship

It was announced on Thursday 7 September 2000, at the Brett Whiteley Studio in Sydney, that 28 year old Melbourne artist Marcus Wills is the winner of the second Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship.

Commenting on this award, Marcus Wills said: "I'm overwhelmed and feel very privileged. The real value of this Scholarship to me is to be able to experience the art, then go and work in the Studio - it’s a great opportunity."

Marcus Wills graduated with a BA (Fine Art) from the Victorian College of the Arts in 1995. Writing in the Australian Art Collector magazine, art critic Bruce James said of Marcus Wills “…He is a young contemporary artist of unusual gifts. These gifts are yet to have their full realisation in the work, but his finished paintings are remarkable both for their technical confidence and intellectual control…”.

Marcus is presently working towards a solo exhibition to be held at Smyrnios Gallery in Melbourne next year.

In 1999 Mrs. Beryl Whiteley generously made funds available to establish the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship. The inspiration for this annual Scholarship was the profound effect of international travel and study experienced by her son, Brett Whiteley, as a result of winning the Italian Travelling Art Scholarship at the age of 20.

The Scholarship is open to Australian artists aged between 20 and 30 years. The award comprises an amount of $25,000 plus a three month residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris which is administered by the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

The judges of this Brett Whiteley Scholarship were Edmund Capon, Director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Barry Pearce, Head Curator of Australian Art at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and artist Tim Storrier.

Judges' Comments
"We were unanimous in our decision, struck by the strange but poetic quality of the artist's vision, not only in the painting he submitted, but also the photographs of his work which were examined during the selection process. We felt this sensibility would be well enhanced in Europe, visiting the great collections there."

206 entries were received from all States of Australia and 30 finalists were selected.