"The International Jewish Artist of the Year" finalists show 18th July - 22nd August

The finalists for this year's Ben Uri, The London Jewish Museum of Art, 'International Jewish Artist of the Year' award have been chosen.

Frank Lisser The Deported Elions, oil on canvas

Komar & Melamid The Big Bang, watercolour & pastel on paper

Herve Constant Jennie's Shoes, digital photgraph

Judy Bermant Quizzical, watercolour

The International Jewish Artist of the Year Award (IJAYA) has had an unprecedented response with 800 works by close to 200 artists from 15 countries as far a field as; America, Australia, France, Germany, Israel, Moldavia, South Africa, Turkey and Switzerland.

Ben Uri Chairman, David Glasser, says; "The sheer quality of works submitted demonstrates the enormous talent across all contemporary practices and the growing international reputation of the Ben Uri Gallery, The London Jewish Museum of Art being a recognised resource for Jewish artists from across the world."

This competition across traditional practice and new media was judged by a prestigious panel led by Dr. Andrew Renton Director of the Curatorial Programme at Goldsmiths College University of London and columnist for the Evening Standard newspaper; Dr. James Hyman, dealer and writer; artists David Breuer-Weil, Carole Berman Sujo and Naomi Alexander; curator Rachel Dickson, and the collector and patron of the arts Marion Naggar.

The finalist's exhibition will be shown at the Ben Uri Gallery in St. John's Wood from 18th July - 22nd August; and will be followed by a gala celebration and awards ceremony at the Tram Studios in Camden Town on Sunday 12th September organised by the Ben Uri and the Friends of the Hebrew University.

Over 2,000 people attended the last awards ceremony and this year should be even busier. A special award of £1,000 has been kindly donated by the family of the late artist Hazel Alexander in her memory. This year's winner will, we are confident, follow in the footsteps of Nelly Agassi who has continued to develop her career internationally to considerable acclaim.