New York, November 7, 2018 – The International Fine Print Dealers Association (IFPDA) congratulates the recipient of the Richard Hamilton Acquisition Prize, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, presented at the 27th edition of the Fine Art Print Fair in its second year at the Javits Center’s River Pavilion.
The award, established in 2012, provides up to $10,000 to support a museum acquisition at the Fine Art Print Fair of one or more prints from any period, with the caveat that the acquisition needs to be finalized before the close of the fair.
Today, The Met collection is comprised of more than 17,000 drawings, 1.2 million prints, and 12,000 illustrated books created in Western Europe and America. The Met used the prize to acquire a screenprint from Mary Ryan Gallery at the Fair — Sam Gilliam’s work entitled “Phase,” 1974, Screenprint, Edition of 16. Gilliam is an important American artist best known for his “Color Field” painting and draped canvases as well as for becoming the first African American artist to represent the United States at the Venice Biennale in 1972.
Named after the acclaimed artist Richard Hamilton, the British pioneer of Pop art, and sponsored by Champion & Partners, the Prize has previously been awarded to the Krannert Art Museum (2017), the National Museum Wales (2016), Cincinnati Art Museum (2015), the Portland Art Museum (2014), the British Museum (2013) and the Philadelphia Museum of Art (2012).
About the IFPDA and the Fine Art Print Fair
Founded in 1987, the International Fine Print Dealers Association is a non-profit organization of expert art dealers dedicated to the highest standards of quality, ethics and connoisseurship. The IFPDA has grown to include nearly 160 members in 13 countries, whose areas of specialization range from old master and modern to contemporary prints, including publishers of prints by renowned contemporary and emerging artists. The IFPDA aims to promote a greater appreciation and a deeper understanding of fine prints among art collectors and the general public through the annual Fine Art Print Fair, as well as public programming, awards, and funding for institutions via its public charity, the IFPDA Foundation.
The Fine Art Print Fair was established in 1991, and has been held annually with the exception of 2001. Proceeds from the Fair support its educational programs and the IFPDA Foundation, which provides grants to museums and cultural institutions worldwide to support a greater awareness of prints as an artistic medium.
About the Richard Hamilton Acquisition Prize
Sponsored by Champion & Partners since 2012, the Richard Hamilton Acquisition Prize funds $10,000 in museum acquisition at IFPDA Print Fair. Since its inception in 2012, the Prize has been awarded to the Portland Art Museum (2014), the British Museum (2013), and the Philadelphia Museum of Art (2012).
In naming the prize, Champion & Partners pays tribute to the artist Richard Hamilton, who inspired their own appreciation of prints, and his profound influence on printmaking. The Prize was conceived to enable museums to acquire significant prints for their collections and to inspire individual collectors by illustrating the profusion of affordable museum quality works on offer at the IFPDA Print Fair.
About Champion & Partners
Champion & Partners is a leading global retained executive search firm. The firm’s specialty is Board Director, CEO and senior executive leadership appointments in technology-enabled companies and related growth industries. From their offices in Asia, Europe and the U.S., they apply the strategic insights of an experienced industry participant, the operating skills of an internationally expert management team and the recruiting abilities of a leading executive search firm. Their proven operating experience and executive search know-how is applied to every search they undertake and is integral to the success of the strategies that shape their clients’ businesses