Jaq Grantford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jaq Grantford
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| Born | 1967 Melbourne, Australia
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| Known for | Portrait painting, illustration of children's books |
| Movement | Australian contemporary art |
Jaq Grantford (born 1967) is an Australian artist and writer. She is famous for her portraits and for drawing pictures in children's books.
Contents
Early Life
Jaq Grantford was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1967.
Her Art Career
Jaq Grantford is well-known for painting portraits of many famous people.
Famous Portraits
She has painted actors like Noni Hazlehurst and Jacki Weaver. She has also painted musicians such as Lior and Ed Le Brocq.
In 2023, Jaq Grantford won the People's Choice award in the Archibald Prize. This is a very important art competition in Australia.
Her painting of radio presenter Ed Le Brocq was chosen as a finalist for the 2024 Archibald Prize. In this painting, Ed Le Brocq asked to be shown as a centaur, which is a mythical creature that is half-human and half-horse. The painting is called I Am a Centaur.
Jaq Grantford also paints many pictures of herself. In some of these self-portraits, she puts herself into famous paintings by other artists. These include works by Rembrandt, J. M. W. Turner, and Andy Warhol.
Awards for Her Art
Jaq Grantford has won many awards for her amazing artwork:
- 2013: People's Choice, Black Swan Prize for Portraiture. This was for her portrait of Jacki Weaver.
- 2013: Her portrait of Jacki Weaver was shown in the Archibald Prize Salon des Refusés.
- 2014: People's Choice, Black Swan Heritage Awards.
- 2015: Winner, Master of Art International exhibition, Architecture Award, London.
- 2016: People's Choice, Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award.
- 2016: Winner, Cliftons Art Prize, Melbourne.
- 2018: People's Choice, Black Swan Prize for Portraiture. This was for her portrait of drag artist Ken Atherton.
- 2019: Winner Kennedy Prize, for her portrait of Ken Atherton.
- 2022: Winner Darling Portrait Prize at the National Portrait Gallery of Australia. This was for a self-portrait called 2020.
- 2023: Winner Archibald People's Choice for her portrait of Noni Hazlehurst.
She has also been a finalist in many other art awards. These include the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize and the Portia Geach Memorial Award.
Writing Books
Besides being a portrait artist, Jaq Grantford has been publishing books since 2002. Many of these are children's books.
One of the books she illustrated, A True Person, was chosen as one of the 250 best new international books for children in 2008. Other books she illustrated, like Squeezy Cuddle Dangly Legs and Molly's Memory Jar, have been recommended by the Family Therapist Awards.
Exhibitions and Collections
Jaq Grantford has shown her art in many places. She had several solo exhibitions at the Dromkeen Museum of Children's Literature. Her work was also shown in international exhibitions of children's book illustration in Portugal and Slovakia.
Her portraits were part of the Women Painting Women exhibition in Melbourne. In 2021, her art was included in a women's art exhibition in Barcelona, Spain.
Her artwork can be found in important art collections. These include the European Museum of Modern Art, the National Gallery of Victoria, and the National Portrait Gallery of Australia.
Books She Wrote or Illustrated
As Writer and Illustrator
- Shoes News, Lothian, 2003
- Various Faerious, Lothian, 2002
- The Hush Treasure Book, Allen & Unwin, 2016 (She was a contributor to this book)
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
