SYDNEY.- Project Five street artist Luke Cornish (E.L.K.) has made history by being the first stencil artist to be announced as a finalist for the prestigious Archibald Prize 2012.

The Melbourne self taught stencil artist teamed up with prominent priest Father Bob Maguire late last year to paint the grumpy portrait. Recently Luke has teamed up with aMBUSH Gallery and Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA) for the award winning urban arts initiative, Project Five.

Crowds gathered over last weekend (March 9-11) to watch the stencil artist create his newest charitable piece the 2.4m x 1.2m 80 layered stencil piece, at Project Five Volume Four, The Rocks. Painting alongside three outstanding street artists Vexta, HAHA and REKA spray, stencil and paint to bring to life the four incredible art pieces.

Project Five now gives Sydneysiders the chance to take home Luke’s latest work at the Project Five Auction next Thursday night 22 March at the Cleland Bond Store (33 Playfair Street, The Rocks) from 6 – 9 pm.

All of the proceeds from the sale of Luke’s work and the works of the three other street artists involved in Project Five - Vexta, HAHA and REKA - will go to the charity Information and Cultural Exchange (an innovative organisation that helps marginalized youth in Western Sydney through creative arts programs).