Multi-disciplinary artist Alex Seton has been announced as the third recipient of the Mordant Family/Australia Council Affiliated Fellowship at the American Academy in Rome. The fellowship is made possible through the generous support of the Mordant Family.
Seton is best known for his contemporary applications of traditional marble carving techniques. The fellowship will enable him to spend two months in residence at the American Academy in Rome, during which he plans to study the use of the shroud in Roman marble statuary.
“I’m excited and honoured to receive the fellowship in Rome,” said Seton. “I look forward to an intensive two months working beside researchers and scholars at the American Academy to develop this new body of work. Being in love with sculpture, I’m particularly looking forward to immersing myself in the atmosphere and taking in the incredible history of statuary in Rome. And of course, eating my weight in gelato.”
On behalf of the Mordant family, Simon Mordant AM congratulated Alex Seton on the Fellowship. “Alex Seton is an exceptionally talented Australian artist who has already achieved significant success in Australia and is gaining increasing momentum internationally. The American Academy will provide an ideal context for Alex to further explore and expand his practice.”
The Council and the Mordant family are extending this highly successful partnership for another five years. “We are delighted to extend our commitment to five more leading Australian Artists to have the opportunity of a Fellowship at the extraordinary American Academy in Rome,” said Mr Mordant. “The benefits of this experience to the artists and indeed the broader Australian arts community, are significant. We are very much enjoying partnering with the Australia Council on this initiative.”
Australia Council CEO Adrian Collette AM congratulated Alex Seton and thanked the Mordant family for their continued support. “This is a significant opportunity for outstanding Australian artists to develop their practice and build their international professional networks, drawing on the exceptional resources available at the American Academy in Rome. We congratulate Alex Seton on his success and sincerely thank the Mordant family for their continued support of this fellowship.”
Established in 1894, the American Academy in Rome is the oldest American overseas centre for independent study and advanced research in the arts and humanities. Through the Affiliated Fellowship Program, artists and scholars from all over the world have the opportunity to pursue their work in an inspiring, collaborative and supportive environment, with accommodation and studio space provided in an historic building on the Janiculum Hill.
Alex Seton is the third recipient of the Mordant Family/Australia Council Affiliated Fellowship. Previous recipients include Jenny Watson and Lynne Roberts Goodwin. For more information, visit: www.australiacouncil.gov.au for details.
Image: Alex Seton – photo by Charles Dennington