Wales Contemporary / Cymru Gyfoes

Wales Contemporary / Cymru Gyfoes, is an international open competition inviting artists from all around the world to enter work in 2D or 3D in any subject matter.

Developed in 2019 by the Waterfront Gallery with the support of the Welsh Government, Wales Contemporary / Cymru Gyfoes, has established a strong reputation for championing and rewarding contemporary artists and their diverse practices, throughout a wide range of prizes and a touring exhibition promising to inspire wide audiences of art lovers.

For its 2022 edition, Wales Contemporary received close to 2,000 entries from 1,000 artists living across 42 countries including the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Norway, France, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Japan and the United Arab Emirates

After much deliberation, a shortlist of 144 works by 117 artists have been selected to showcase their work in the 2022 exhibition.

The 2022 shortlist was selected by a panel comprised of distinguished art professionals: Rebecca Salter RA, President of the Royal Academy, Morfudd Bevan, curator of the National Collection, The National Library of Wales and Jill Piercy, curator, and writer.

“As a selector, I was impressed by the high quality of entries with submissions from over forty countries worldwide” says Jill Piercy. “I look forward to seeing the original works by the finalists and selecting the prize winners for Wales Contemporary 2022.”

“We are delighted that this important competition was recognised in so many countries around the world” notes David Randell, Curator and Director at the Waterfront Gallery. “Bringing an exhibition of this quality to the far western fringes of Wales to share with our communities is an important part of our ethos.”

The shortlisted artworks will be available to see in the Wales Contemporary / Cymru Gyfoes exhibition at the Waterfront Gallery, Milford Haven, from Saturday 1st October 2022, with the Private View and Prize Announcements occurring on Friday 30 September 2022. The exhibition will then tour to the gallery@OXO, central London, in November 2022.

The first and second iterations of Wales Contemporary invited work ‘Inspired by Wales’. Now in its third instalment, the 2022 exhibition has expanded its horizons, inviting entries in any subject matter, across mediums of painting, sculpture, drawing, print, ceramic, glass, textile, collage, mixed media, and more.

Viewers can expect to see sweeping seascapes, snow tipped mountainous terrains, tender interiors and still life frames, photo realistic and evocative landscapes, abstract and surreal scenes of imagination, figurative and portraiture subjects and striking sculptural forms to name but a few.

Placed in dialogue with one another, the works within this year’s exhibition not only present representations of what makes Wales Welsh, but brings together a dynamic selection showcasing exceptional, diverse, and original expressions of contemporary practice across the globe today.

David Randell, Curator and Director at the Waterfront Gallery said: “The Waterfront Gallery is immensely proud to be bringing this prestigious competition to Milford Waterfront again, and of our partnership with the Port of Milford Haven. We particularly appreciate them being our lead sponsor for the Wales Contemporary international fine art competition and subsequent exhibition.” 

Tom Sawyer, CEO for the Port of Milford Haven commented: “We are delighted to be supporting the Wales Contemporary art competition. The Waterfront Gallery is an important cultural asset to Milford Waterfront, and one we are very proud to collaborate with.”