Finalists Announced!
We are delighted to announce the finalists for the NOW Contemporary Art Prize.
This year saw a record number of artists submitting works. After a rigorous day of shortlisting, the judges have selected 38 artworks from a total pool of 199 entries. The selection panel for this year’s prize included Ron Ramsey (Executive Director Art Gallery Society of NSW), Robert Hollingworth (Artist and Gallery Owner) and Bronwyn Coulston (Unit Manager – Arts and Culture, Shoalhaven City Council). The final judging will take place at Shoalhaven Regional Gallery with the winners announced at the exhibition opening on Saturday 5th October, from 12pm.
NOW Contemporary Art Prize is the biggest art prize on the South Coast of NSW. 2019 is the fourth time the prize has been run and artists were asked to respond to the exhibition theme ‘pushes boundaries, responds to our world, is dynamic and personal’. With entries submitted in a wide range of media, the finalists all show high levels of skills in their chosen area, and a strong engagement with the theme.
Gallery Manager Bronwyn Coulston says:
“We were thrilled to receive entries from right across Australia, with finalists from five different states and territories. We are especially pleased that of the finalists almost half are from the Shoalhaven and surrounding regions – a wonderful representation of the artistic talent of the South Coast. With such a diversity of works and artists represented in this prize we know that audiences will find works that will challenge and delight. We look forward to sharing this exhibition with our community.”
During the exhibition visitors will have a chance to vote for their favourite work and go in the draw to win a prize as well. The People’s Choice Award will be announced on the 19th November.
The exhibition will run from the 5th October to the 23rd November.
List of Finalists
Vanessa Barbay Day and Night (Autumn Cockatoo and Flying Fox 2011) 2019
Lee Bethel Beyond
Yvonne Boag Sewol
Katherine Boland Spotfires #1
Kurt Brereton True Map of Currarong No:14
Tom Buckland Vista (Detritus of Mars)
Karen Coull Into the forest I go - #2
John Dahlsen Interior Detail #1
Tamara Dean Endangered 16
A- F Fulgence Solo, I Am Not What You Think
Joanne Handley Untitled (Bromeliad)
Kathryn Jeanes Creek bed
Freya Jobbins 740kg
Alun Rhys Jones BECKHAM
Robyn Kinsela My Brother's Country is on Fire
Rhys Knight A Menial Existence #2
Bec Litvan To Have and to Hold, In Sickness and In Health
Julie Love How to Explain Global Warming to a Hare
Penny Lovelock A cup of tea fixes everything
Penny Mason In A Mirror
Alison McDonald MMXIX
Richard Morecroft Intersection
Wendy Moulstone Possessors of Souls
Catherine O'Donnell While you were out
Kanun Onsel "FOUR CORNERS''
Wayde Owen Pink Vanitas
Sonia Payes Transient information
Jenny Pollak Anthropocene
Francesca Richards In The Name Of The Father (Diptych)
Vicki Robinson Chance Reflections- On Liminal Arks
Penny Sadubin 33 Things from the Sea
Kirli Saunders Intergenerational Healing - Rediscovery
Ian Scott Phone Zombies
Jeanette Stok Denature
Kyla Stone Grace and surrender
Jill Talbot Dora Unplugged
Stephen Tierney Optimistic
Lilli Waters Dark Matter
2019 Prizes
1st Prize - $10,000
Highly Commended - $1,000
Jervis Bay and Basin Members Prize - $1,000
Curator’s Choice Award – solo exhibition at Shoalhaven Regional Gallery in 2021
People Choice Award - $500