BP Portrait Award 2019 Shortlist Announced, Mana Decentralized Platform Launches, Mostyn Seeks Curator

The National Portrait Gallery in London revealed the shortlist for the 2019 BP Portrait Award on Monday. Selected by a panel including artist Gary Hume, curator Zoé Whitley, and Gaylene Gould, the finalists feature Carl-Martin Sandvold's self-portrait, Charlie Schaffer's painting 'Imara in Her Winter Coat', Emma Hopkins' depiction of a dog and its owner, and Massimiliano Pironti's portrait of his 95-year-old grandmother. The winner, who will receive £35,000, will be announced on 10 June 2019, with an exhibition running from 13 June to 20 October at the gallery. Meanwhile, Mana Contemporary, an arts organization based in New Jersey, launched Mana Decentralized, an online platform enabling artists to sell works priced under $5,000 directly to collectors. Artists pay a monthly membership fee to post images and connect with buyers, with sales split 60/40 in the artist's favor. Additionally, Mostyn, a publicly funded contemporary art gallery in Llandudno, Wales, is seeking a curator of visual arts to develop high-quality exhibitions for audiences and its online community. Further details about the position are available online.