The Mosman Art Prize is an annual, acquisitive award for painting sponsored by Mosman Municipal Council. Established in 1947, the Prize is one of the oldest and most prestigious, local government art awards in Australia. The winning works form an outstanding collection of modern and contemporary art, reflecting developments in Australian art practice over the last half a century.
The primary purpose of the Mosman Art Prize is “to build a municipal art collection and to encourage an interest in the arts in the local community.” Works from the collection are regularly displayed in the Mosman Art Gallery & Community Centre, Mosman Council and Mosman Library.
The winner of the first Mosman Art Prize, judged by Lloyd Rees in 1947, was Margaret Olley. Subsequent Prize winners include many prominent artists such as Grace Cossington Smith, Weaver Hawkins, Nancy Borlase, Anthony Galbraith, Elisabeth Cummings, Janet Dawson, Jenny Sages and Tim Johnson. The 2010 Mosman Art Prize was won by Craig Waddell. Past adjudicators of the Prize have also included prominent figures in the Australian art world such as Margaret Preston, John Olsen, Tim Storrier, Edmund Capon and Margaret Olley.
The 2011 Mosman Art Prize has been judged by Reg Richardson AM, arts patron, supporter and art collector.
Winner of the 2011 Mosman Art Prize
Artist Kerrie Lester has won the major Mosman Council Art Prize of $30,000 with her whimsical painting of white birds in a tree titled Out on a limb.
Artist’s statement
Like all of my works, Out on a limb, was inspired by the every day moments that sometimes go unnoticed; dogs running from their owners, children paddling in rock pools or in this particular case, a branch laden down by the weight of a flock of birds. The warm afternoon sun bouncing off the water, a sparkling, shimmering back drop to a beautiful and familiar Sydney scene. The stitching and use of words on the canvas serve to exaggerate, to the point of obvious, these fleeting moments that we often don’t have time to appreciate.
Non-acquisitive prizes
Peter O’Doherty, Winner
Allan Gamble Memorial Art Prize
The Allan Gamble Memorial Art Prize ($3,000) for the best artwork with the theme of the built environment has been won by Peter O’Doherty for his painting Apollo Bay weatherboard. O’Doherty won the Commendation prize in 2006 and the Allan Gamble Memorial Art Prize in 2007.
Guy Maestri, Winner of Commendation Prize
The Commendation Prize ($2,000), has been won by 2009 Archibald Prize winner Guy Maestri for his vigorous landscape Robertson #V.
I’ve been drawing and painting from the southern highlands and the western plains region for the last year. These landscape paintings are the most literal I have made to date. More and more I am discovering the endless complexity in this seemingly simple task. I am basically learning to paint again, and there is more than enough in the landscape to challenge me for a lifetime.
Christopher Horder, Winner Fourth Village Providore Young Emerging Artist Award
The Fourth Village Providore Young Emerging Artists’ Award ($2,000) has been won by Christopher Horder for his abstract work that is given its title by the German word for autumn – Herbst.
The paintings are an exploration into a process. They are paintings inspired by nature and other paintings spanning from ancient Chinese painters to the action paintings of Abstract Expressionism and post-Abstract Expressionism. They explore ideas of the alchemy of the subconscious and the metaphysical aspects of paint itself; the idea of chance imagery and the interaction of the viewer’s own interpretation of the visual world. They offer a keyhole into a world that cannot be premeditated, where the elements have a voice of their own, where the paint is not merely a tool of exploration but becomes the driving force for something new and unexpected.
Vote for Viewer’s Choice
In addition there will be a Viewer’s Choice Prize of $1,000 sponsored by the Mosman Art Society, to be announced at the close of the exhibition.
The Mosman Art Gallery is indebted to these sponsors for their generous support and continuing commitment to the Mosman Art Prize. These contributions ensure that the Mosman Art Prize remains one of the most prestigious awards in Australia. The Mosman Art Gallery is also indebted to the artists who enter the Prize and congratulates all those who were selected for exhibition, especially the 2011 Prize Winners.
Works selected for exhibition & competition
Collection of artworks
Selected works can be collected after the exhibition on the following dates:
- In person: Monday 5 September – Wednesday 7 September, 10am-5pm; Thursday 8 September, 10am to 7pm
- By courier: Wednesday 7 or Thursday 8 September
Works not collected by 16 September will be disposed of at the cost of the artist.
Terms and Conditions
1. HOW TO ENTER
Entries for the Mosman Art Prize must be received on Monday 18 July 2011 at the Mosman Art Gallery between 8:00am and 7:00pm.
One entry form for each artwork must have been completed in advance online here at www.mosmanartgallery.org.au. Once you have completed the online form you will receive an email with artwork entry details and a unique entry number. Two printed copies of the email, plus entry fee of $50 (includes GST) must accompany the artwork on receipting day. (Cash, cheque, EFTPOS and Visa, Mastercard and Amex credit cards will be accepted. Payments by credit card incur a 1% cost.)
Selected entries will be listed here on the website from 23 July.
2. ELIGIBILITY
The Mosman Art Prize is open to all permanent Australian residents aged 16 years and over with the exception of Mosman Council staff, Councillors, the Mosman Art Gallery Consultative Group; and their immediate family.
3. MEDIUM
The Mosman Art Prize is open to original paintings in any medium such as watercolour, acrylic and oil. To qualify for adjudication the work must be substantially painted and can incorporate to a lesser extent other mediums such as drawing (pencil, pastel, charcoal, etc.), printmaking and collage. Photography and sculpture are specifically excluded. All work entered is to be produced after 1 January, 2010 and must be the original work of the exhibitor.
4. SUBJECT
For the Mosman Art Prize, Commendation Prize, Viewers’ Choice and Young Emerging Artists’ Award the subject of the work is entirely open to the artist. For the Allan Gamble Memorial Art Prize, the subject is ‘the built environment’.
5. PRIZES
- Mosman Art Prize sponsored by Mosman Council – $30,000
- Allan Gamble Memorial Art Prize sponsored by Mosman Council – $3,000
- Commendation Prize sponsored by Mosman Council – $2,000
- Young Emerging Artists’ Award (under 35) sponsored by Fourth Village Providore – $2,000
- Viewers’ Choice Prize sponsored by Mosman Art Society – $1,000
All prizes will be awarded on the advice of the Judge, with the exception of the Viewers’ Choice Prize.
6. ACQUISITIVE PRIZE
The Mosman Art Prize winning work shall remain the property of Mosman Council. The artist retains copyright. Mosman Council must be acknowledged on any reproduction of the prize-winning work.
7. EXHIBITION SELECTION
The Judge will also select works of merit to be hung in the Mosman Art Prize exhibition, held at the Mosman Art Gallery. All works selected for hanging must remain on show for the duration of the exhibition. The Judge’s decision shall be final and no subsequent discussion will be entered into.
8. EXHIBITION HOURS
The 2011 Mosman Art Prize exhibition will be held in the Mosman Art Gallery from Saturday 30 July to Sunday 4 September inclusive.
Admission is free. Open 7 days: 10am–5pm.
9. SALE OF ARTWORKS
All works exhibited in the Mosman Art Prize may be for sale unless marked Not For Sale (NFS). A commission of 33.3% will be deducted from the selling price of any work sold by the Gallery. Should GST apply to the sale of your artwork, please ensure it is included in the total selling price. Artists affiliated with a specific commercial gallery should contact their Gallery Director regarding ‘split commission’ arrangements. Split commmission is 40% i.e. 20% / 20%. The name of the Gallery must be included on the entry form if commission is to be split.
10. ENTRY DETAILS AND FEE
The entry fee is $50 (inc. GST) per art work (non-refundable). A maximum of 2 works per artist (one online entry form per artwork). Entry forms must be completed by the artist. All details supplied by the artist are final including name of artwork, artists’ name and price of artwork.
11. PREPARATION OF ARTWORK
Works must be presented ready for exhibition i.e. mounted and framed (if necessary) with ‘D-ring’ hanging devices attached. The artist’s name, address and phone number, title of work, price or Not For Sale (NFS) must be clearly marked on the back of each work, and on the entry form.
NO WET PAINTINGS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
12. SIZE OF ARTWORK
The maximum size of works entered in the Prize is an area of 2m² (i.e. length × width is no more than 2m², including frame) e.g. 1.50m × 1.33m = 2.0m², 2.00m × 1.00m = 2.0m²
13. RECEIPT AND DELIVERY OF ENTRIES
Receipt of entries is Monday 18 July 2011, from 8am until 7pm. Entries must be delivered at the expense of the artist to Mosman Art Gallery & Community Centre, corner Art Gallery Way & Myahgah Road, Mosman. If artworks are delivered by courier, the name of the courier company must be on the entry form.
COMPLETED, PRINTED ENTRY FORMS MUST ACCOMPANY THE ARTWORK.
14. COLLECTION OF ENTRIES NOT CHOSEN FOR EXHIBITION
Successful entrants will be listed on www.mosmanartgallery.org.au from July 23. Works not selected must be collected from the Mosman Art Gallery between Tuesday 26 July and Wednesday 27 July between the hours of 10am and 6pm and Thursday 28 July, between the hours of 10am and 7pm. Works not collected by 19 August 2011 will be disposed of.
15. COLLECTION OF ARTWORKS AFTER EXHIBITION
Exhibitors must collect their works between Monday 5 September and Wednesday 7 September between 10am and 5pm and Thursday 8 September between 10am and 7pm at their own cost. Mosman Art Gallery will not be responsible for works not collected by this time. Works not collected by 16 September 2011 will be disposed of.
16. COLLECTION OF WORKS BY COURIER
Artworks not exhibited must be collected by courier on 28 or 29 July, 10am-5pm. Exhibited artworks must be collected by courier on 7 or 8 September, 10am-5pm. Artists must organise the courier and advise Mosman Art Gallery of all details – especially the name of the courier company and approximate time and date for collection.
17. CARE AND RESPONSIBILITY
Mosman Art Gallery will exercise all reasonable care with works submitted, but will not be responsible for the loss of or damage to any work while in its custody or in transit to and from the Gallery.
18. COPYRIGHT
Mosman Art Gallery reserves the right to photograph works exhibited in the Mosman Art Prize for the purpose of documentation and promotion. All necessary acknowledgements of authorship will be duly made.
19. MOSMAN COUNCIL PRIVACY MANAGEMENT PLAN
The personal details requested on this form will only be used for the purpose of processing your application, keeping records, and establishing your identity in accordance with Mosman Council’s Privacy Management Plan. Access to the information is restricted to Council Officers and other authorised people.
20. INTERPRETATION OF THE RULES
In the event of a dispute regarding the interpretation of conditions, the decision of Mosman Art Gallery shall be binding on all parties.
Enter the Prize online
Frequently asked questions
How do I print the entry form?
Once you have completed the online entry form, you will receive an email which you will need to print. If you are using webmail (like Hotmail or Gmail) use the webmail service’s printing icon (Hotmail) or print link (Gmail), rather than printing the web page.
This will help ensure the form prints neatly, which will allow for faster and more accurate processing of your entry.
If I am represented by a commercial gallery what is the commission?
You should discuss it with the director of your gallery and tell them that the commission is split 50/50 between Mosman Art Gallery and your gallery and it is based on a 40% commission i.e. 20% to Mosman Art Gallery and 20% to your gallery.
I can’t make it in on Monday 18, can I bring it in Friday 15, Saturday 16, Sunday 17 or Tuesday 19?
No, every artwork must arrive on Monday 18 with 2 printed copies of the email confirmation in order to be processed ready for judging. You can get a courier to deliver or a friend or family member . Our hours are 8am to 7pm on the Monday for delivery. Payment of $50 (incl. GST) must be made on the day.
I have an artwork that is a drawing using oil pastel can I enter it?
No – this is a painting prize not a drawing prize – you work can be mixed media however the work must be substantially painted in order to qualify.
What is a D-ring and where do I buy one?
A D-ring is a triangular or D shaped ring with a screw that is then attached to each side of the picture or canvas frame ready for us to attach a hook and wire for hanging. You can buy them at the hardware store.
How big?
2 meters squared e.g. 1 metre x 2 metres or 1.50 metres x 1.33 metres.
Not 2 metres x 2 metres which is 4 metres squared and too big.
My work has 3 / 6 / 10 parts — can I enter?
If it all takes up no more than 2 metres squared when hung it is OK.
Slideshow
Saturday 30 July - Sunday 4 September
