Emma Talbot is the winner of the Max Mara Art Prize for Women 2019-2021

Max Mara Art Prize for Women is a prestigious prize supports UK-based female artists who have not previously had a major solo exhibition.

Iwona Blazwick, OBE, Director of the Whitechapel Gallery, announced Emma Talbot as the eighth winner of the Max Mara Art Prize for Women at a ceremony held at Whitechapel gallery, London. Shortlisted artists included Allison Katz, Katie Schwab, Tai Shani, and Hanna Tuulikki.

Emma Talbot (b. 1969, UK) lives and works in London. Her work is often hand-drawn or painted onto silk or other textiles, and incorporates her own writing or quotes from other sources. It explores the personal as political, social politics, gender, the natural world, and our intimacy with technology and language.

Emma Talbot said: “This prize comes at a crucial point that seems incredibly timely for me, as I have only recently began to focus fully on my own work, having for many years taken on teaching roles to support my family, as a single parent. The Max Mara Art Prize for Women will help me make the most of this major step. Just at the perfect time, this supportive and amazing opportunity to concentrate totally on my work, and undertake extended first-hand research, will be life-changing.”

Iwona Blazwick said: “Emma Talbot makes radiant drawings and polychromatic sculptures on an epic scale; and combines word and image to express the lyricism and the pain of subjectivity. We are all excited to see how the experience of Italy will impact on the visionary aesthetic of this year’s Max Mara Art Prize winner!”

Luigi Maramotti said: “I’m very proud of the long lasting association with the Whitechapel Gallery and the friendship that I have personally shared with its director, Iwona Blazwick. Emma Talbot crafted a very original project will hopefully leverage on the incredible potentials that Italy offers when it comes to deep-diving into art history, textile techniques and the diversity of territories: all elements crucial to her future endeavour. We are looking forward to welcoming her to Italy and Collezione Maramotti.”