By Communications staff

A Queen'™s University graduate is in the running for one of Britain's most prestigious art awards.

Ciara Phillips (Artsci'00) is one of four artists who made the shortlist for the Turner Prize earlier this year.

Ciara Phillips is the first Canadian-born artist to make the short list for the Turner Prize. Photo Tate Britain

Currently living in Glasgow, Scotland, Ms. Phillips received a Bachelor of Fine Art at Queen'™s before earning a Master of Fine Art in 2004 at the Glasgow School of Art.

Ms. Phillips, the first Canadian-born finalist in the award'™s 30-year history, is nominated for her exhibition Workshop at The Showroom in London, where she turned the gallery into a print workshop, bringing in other artists designers and even local women'™s groups to make prints with her.

Her work often involves a range of media including screenprints, photos, textiles and wall paintings.

The Turner Prize is awarded annually to an artist under the age of 50 for an outstanding exhibition or presentation of his or her work in the previous year. None of the four artists are "˜big names"™ in the art world, which falls in line with the award'™s aim of promoting "œpublic discussion of new developments in contemporary British art."

A special exhibition featuring the work of the nominees will be held at Tate Britain from Sept. 30 to Jan. 4. The winner of the £25,000 prize will be announced Dec. 1. Each of the other nominees will receive £5,000.

Also making the shortlist are Duncan Campbell; James Richards; and Tris Vonna-Michell.