The Mark Tanner Sculpture Award

We are delighted to announce that Steph Huang (b. 1990, Taiwan) has won the 2023-24 Mark Tanner Sculpture Award.

Steph Huang is the 21st winner of the annual sculpture prize and receives: £10,000 towards the production of new work over the coming year; a solo exhibition at Standpoint in 2024; and a National Touring Programme.

This year was the highest amount of entries for the award yet with Huang being selected from close to 300 submissions by a judging panel comprising: Francis Upritchard; Claire Feeley, Head of Exhibitions, Jupiter Artland; Rebecca Scott, Director, Cross Lane Projects and Mark Tanner Trust; and Lee Holden, MTSA winner 2022/23.

Poetically charged, Huang's work expresses autobiographical narratives through a process of layered storytelling. Rooted in the close observation of incidental details, the relationships objects have with each other, as well as in the eccentric moments in everyday life, her work attempts to examine something of the lives of modern human beings through mass-produced objects. Often captured through her analogue camera, these moments become trigger points for new ideas given form through assemblage. In this way, Steph’s sculptural works have a lyrical quality, one where the encounter is an invitation.

The Mark Tanner Sculpture Award is the most significant award for emerging UK artists working in the field of sculpture. It seeks to reward outstanding and innovative practice, with a particular interest in work that demonstrates a commitment to process, or sensitivity to material.

There was an extremely strong shortlist of eight artists selected for interview from across the UK. Shortlisted artists were Hermione Allsopp (East Sussex), Claye Bowler (Derby), Rosie Gibbens (London), Rosie McGinn (London), Laura Ní Fhlaibhín (London), Abigail Norris (East Sussex) and Laura Yuile (Manchester).

Steph Huang (b.1990, Taiwan) lives and works in London. She received her MA in sculpture from the Royal College of Art, 2021. Huang has presented recent solo exhibitions at Taipei Fine Arts Museum (2022); Volt, Eastbourne (2022); Goldsmiths CCA, London (2022); and mother’s tankstation, London (2022). Her work has been featured in recent group exhibitions at Galerie du Monde, Hong Kong (2023); Bloomberg New Contemporaries, Humber Street Gallery, Hull and South London Gallery, London (2022); Staffordshire St, London (2022); AplusA Gallery, Venice (2022); Belmacz, London (2021); San Mei Gallery, London (2021, 2020); Bloc Projects, Sheffield (2021); South London Gallery (2021); and Cromwell Place, London (2021). Huang was recently awarded the Grand Prize in the Taipei Art Awards 2022 for her presentation at Taipei Fine Arts Museum.

Above images information:
Cherry Picker, 2023. 55 x 40.5 x 5 cm, 112 x 35.5 x 11 cm. Plywood, MDF, paint, printed copper sheet, hand-blown glass, powder-coated mild steel, copper leaf.

Seascape, 2022. 237 x 75 cm. Prints on PVC strip, mild steel
Do You Hear the People Speak?, 2022. 110 x 18 x 32 cm. Plywood, speaker, cable, hand-blown glass, dowel, tin, sound.

I will see you when the week ends
Installation view, 2023, Public Gallery, London.