THINK of famous art these days and you’re probably as likely to think of dead sheep and soiled underwear as the Mona Lisa.
But that could all change if one woman has her way. When Agi Katz, 66-year-old Hungarian émigré and founder of the Boundary Gallery in St John’s Wood, commented on the lack of good figurative art coming from art schools one year ago, she had little idea where her comment would lead.
The chance remark sparked the offer of a donation of £10,000 from a long-term client – who wants to remain anonymous – to set up a prize specifically for students of figurative art.
And last week, first, second and joint third prize winners for the new Boundary Prize for Figurative Art were announced at the gallery – with the quality of the entries showing that figurative art is far from dead.
Figurative art is art that focuses traditionally on the human form or recognisable objects, as opposed to abstract or conceptual art.
Ms Katz, whose gallery is 19 years old this year, says: “I have always supported paintings with strong composition, good drawing skills and a brilliant use of colour. But there seemed to be fewer and fewer avenues for figurative painters so hopefully this will encourage more of them.
“Students now are trying to emulate Damien Hirst or Tracey Emin with many not even doing a drawing course first which to me is nonsense. You have to learn the alphabet before you decide to experiment.”
Ms Katz, who has lived in the Holly Lodge estate in Highgate for the past 37 years, arrived in London after the Hungarian uprising of 1956 but it was not until her youngest child was at school in 1973 that she decided to indulge her passion for art. “I signed up for a three-year course at the Chelsea School of Art,” she says.
“I knew within three weeks that I didn’t have the talent to be an artist but I still loved it. It taught me how to look at art and gave me the confidence to appreciate it. It also enables me to talk to artists in a much more empathetic way.”
Being an artist, as she acknowledges, is a tough career choice with few rising to the dizzy heights of a Hockney or Hirst. Many art students, she says, become either teachers or printmakers, that is, if they decide to stay in the profession. For this art lover, celebrating the best in figurative art and encouraging other artists with prizes like this one is what suits her temperament best.
“I follow a maxim of Matisse, the great French painter,” she says. “I love the joy you get from his work. He said that you should be able to take a painting home, sit down in front of it, put your feet up and enjoy it.”

• The work of the shortlisted entrants for the Boundary Prize for Figurative Art is on display at the gallery until April 30. Boundary Gallery, 98 Boundary Road, NW8. 020 7624 1126.