2011 Mosman Art Prize
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. Read more
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
Slideshow
Public Program
From the blog
Kerrie Lester wins the 2011 Mosman Art Prize
A record crowd attend the Sunday MAP artists talks
