Hard Rock Cafe Manchester’s second charity Art Challenge triumphs with music icons
A fantastic portrait of Johnny Marr came out on top in Hard Rock Cafe Manchester’s second Art Challenge, a creative charity competition in aid of Mercury Phoenix Trust, a charity organisation set up in Freddie Mercury’s memory to fight HIV/AIDS worldwide.
Five artists gathered at Hard Rock Cafe Manchester on Freddie Mercury's birthday (5th September) for a chance to showcase their artistic skills and win the prize of a £250 Hard Rock Cafe restaurant voucher and a Mercury Phoenix Trust ‘Freddie Mercury merchandise bundle’.
All five artists were tasked with bringing to life a ‘Manchester Musical Icon’, which resulted in portraits of musical legends such as Guy Garvey, Johnny Marr, Morrissey, Oasis’ Gallagher brothers, Liam and Noel, and Lisa Stansfield - but ultimately it was Caz Latham’s acrylic portrait of Johnny Marr that caught the eyes of the esteemed judging panel, praised especially for its “vibrant use of colour”.
The five paintings will be on display in Salford’s Mossroom Bookshop until 30th September where a QR code can be scanned to make bids on the paintings as they’re auctioned off for the Mercury Phoenix Trust.
The judging panel was made up of experts and enthusiasts from Manchester Metropolitan University and Manchester Confidential, who came together to decide on the top three places.
Dr Emily Brick from Manchester Metropolitan University commented, “We were once again absolutely blown away by the energy and vibrancy of the artist’s work, and it was especially nice to see some familiar faces that took part in last year’s charity Art Challenge return. Agreeing on the winner was once again not an easy decision to make!”
David Adamson from Manchester Confidential added, “It always surprises me the kind of things artists can do, both amateurs and professionals. I’ve really enjoyed seeing the personality of each piece of artwork come to life, and it's a real pleasure to see people painting what they love.”
Aneta Jarzmik, General Manager at Hard Rock Cafe Manchester, commented: “We’re once again really pleased with the outcome of Hard Rock Cafe Manchester’s Art Challenge, and are thrilled to see new faces behind easels as well as returning ones from last year’s challenge. It goes without saying that all artists did an excellent job at capturing the heart and soul of the musicians through an array of different media and styles, and we enjoyed watching them being brought to life throughout the day.”