Jaq Grantford Explained

Jaq Grantford
Birth Date:1967
Birth Place:Melbourne, Australia
Known For:Portrait painting, illustration of children's books
Movement:Australian contemporary art

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.[1]

Career

Art

Grantford's portraits include Jacki Weaver, Paul Mercurio, Jonathon Welch, physician Catherine Crock, Lior, Ed Le Brocq, and composers Elena Kats-Chernin, Andrew Batterham, and Nigel Westlake.[1]

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.[2]

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.[1]

Writing

In addition to working as a portrait artist and fine artist, Grantford has been publishing books since 2002.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5]

Recognition and awards

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.[1]

Personal life

One of Grantford's children is transgender.[2]

She has been involved in the Melbourne-based charity Hush Foundation, which uses the arts to improve young patients' lives in hospitals,[2] founded by physician Catherine Crock.[9]

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.[1]

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.[1]

Collections

Her work is held in the, the National Gallery of Victoria, the National Portrait Gallery of Australia and many other collections.

Books

As writer and illustrator

As illustrator

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jaq Grantford, b. 1967 . . 2022 . 16 June 2024.
  2. Web site: Andriani . Ria . ABC Classic presenter Ed Le Brocq's portrait 'I am a centaur' by Jaq Grantford a finalist in 2024 Archibald prize . . 14 June 2024 . 16 June 2024.
  3. Web site: The Style File: Jacqui Grantford. Thestylefile.com. 24 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140304035715/http://www.thestylefile.com/show.php?illustrator_id=44#. 2014-03-04. dead.
  4. Web site: Bayside City Council - Judges . March 11, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110422231735/http://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/arts_writingcomp_judges.htm . April 22, 2011 .
  5. Web site: Australian Family Therapists Award for Children's Literature. Anzjft.com. 24 October 2014.
  6. Web site: Portrait Artists Australia. 14 May 2012. 16 June 2024.
  7. Web site: 2019 Kennedy Prize Winner . Kennedy Prize . 21 May 2021 . 16 June 2024.
  8. Web site: Darling Portrait Prize 2022 . National Portrait Gallery exhibition . 8 December 2022 . 9 December 2022.
  9. Web site: Transforming the culture of healthcare . Hush Foundation . 1 January 1970 . 16 June 2024.
  10. Web site: Have Your Book Published by Jojo Publishing . March 11, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120221110735/http://www.jojopublishing.com/html/s01_home/home.asp . February 21, 2012 .
  11. Web site: wishesforonemoreday. Flashlightpress.com. 24 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141007002604/http://www.flashlightpress.com/wishesforonemoreday.html. 7 October 2014. dead. dmy-all.