Portrait Prize winners announced

Published on 19 December 2022

Gus Armstrong - Still - High waters on the shoulders of giants 2022.jpg

Gus Armstrong’s artwork High waters on the shoulders of giants 2022 (pictured) has won the Mid-Western Region Best Overall Portrait Prize at the inaugural MAP Portrait Prize announced this evening.

Close to 400 entries were received from across Australia, with 89 entries shortlisted for the final exhibition that is being held in conjunction with the Next Gen Portrait Prize, showcasing 100 submissions from local students.

The exhibited artworks include a broad range of subjects and styles in a cross section of artistic genres including painting, sculptures, photography, mixed media, drawing, ceramics and video.

Gallery Curator, Lizzy Galloway said the standard was incredibly high for a first-time art prize.

“The most encouraging part of the exhibition has been seeing the high standard of creativity that exists within our region,” Ms Galloway said.

“Of the 89 finalists, more than half come from the Mid-Western Region, further reflecting the high calibre of professional and non-professional artists that reside here.

“Artists have answered the callout for this new portrait prize with many creating new works especially for this exhibition. Our visitors, particularly those locally, will recognise many characters from within our local community.”

The winning prizes were awarded by the judging panel of Alex Wisser, Cementa (Kandos), Kent Buchanon, Curator, Western Plains Cultural Centre (Dubbo), Linda Jackson, artist (Clandulla) and Steven Cavanagh, Arts OutWest (Bathurst).

There was spirited debate amongst the judges, particularly given the non-traditional medium used in Gus Armstrong’s winning work.

“Winning this prize is entirely subjective and it took a long time to determine the winner,” they noted.

“Overall we were drawn to a work that had the ability to start a conversation.”

 

MAP Portrait Prize 2022 winning entries

Mid-Western Regional Council Best Portrait Prize: Gus Armstrong High waters on the shoulders of giants 2022

4k Video

Duration: 54 seconds

 

Gora and Ellie Singh Mann Prize (Mid-Western Region residents only): Anna Robards Self portrait (always ourselves) 2022

Digital print on archival cotton rag

 

Simon Staines Best Emerging Portrait Prize: Jessica Hodge Author, historian, daughter of Kandos, my great aunt, Colleen O’Sullivan 2022

Black BIC pen on paper

 

The Mudgee Art House Courageous Award: Blake Griffiths Someone Winning Somewhere 2022

Woven oil painting

 

Commendation: Richard Maude Clare Brokenshire (1994) 2021

Oil and acrylic paint on plywood panel

 

Next Gen Portrait Prize, sponsored by The Property Shop:

Preschool – Year 2 Prize: Cooper Freeman, Age 6 My brother Lennox that has long hair 2022

 

Year 3 – Year 6 Prize: Olivia Pietsch, Age 10 Self portrait 2022

 

Year 7 – Year 12 Prize: Ashon Behrens, Age 16 Self portrait 2022

The Mudgee Art House Courageous Award: Sophie Marshall, Age 14 My pops painting 2022

 

Commendation: Amelia West, Age 2 Family portrait 2022

 

The MAP Portrait Prize and Next Gen Portrait Prize will be on exhibition until 12 March. Voting for the SPS Solar People’s Choice Prize and the Next Gen People’s Choice Prize can be done at the gallery and will be announced in the New Year.