Portrait Prize winners announced
Published on 19 December 2022
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.