Artist Louise Tate has been awarded the $15,000 Bayside Acquisitive Art Prize for her painting 'Self Portrait with Strawflower 2023'.
Image credit: Artist Louise Tate is the winner of the Major Acquisitive Art Prize with her painting Self Portrait with Strawflower 2023, oil on linen, 58 x 43 cm. Courtesy the artist and Jan Murphy Gallery.
Announced at the opening night, Tate was selected from a group of 38 finalists drawn from more than 420 entries across Australia.
This year's judges included Jane Clark, Senior Research Curator, Mona (Museum of Old and New Art), Hobart, and Dr Chris McAuliffe, Art Historian, Centre for Art History and Art Theory, Australian National University, Canberra.
Judge Jane Clark said, "The artist extends the genre of portraiture into the allegorical realm, picturing herself in profile while a single flower sprig ruptures her facial features and, perhaps, signals her inner mind. The unusual composition communicates a correlation between the short-lived perennial strawflower and human mortality. Tate's sensitively rendered striped shirt provides an abstract element that adds to the visual complexity of the work, and the slightly dark, sepia-toned palette intensifies the work's timelessness and intimacy."
Bayside Mayor Cr Hanna El Mouallem said, "As we celebrate artists who enrich our Bayside community through artistic endeavour, I'm delighted that the winning work will be acquired for Council's Art and Heritage Collection. This initiative aligns with our 2050 Bayside Vision and our Arts, Culture and Libraries Strategy 2023 - 2027."
Image credit: Local Art Prize Winner Lorna Quinn with her painting Like an Oyster 2022, oil on board, 32 x 25 cm. Courtesy the artist.
Also awarded at the opening night was the $3,000 Local Art Prize, awarded to artist Lorna Quinn for her painting Like an Oyster 2022.
The judges noted it was beautifully executed with a jewel-like presence. "The work draws the viewer into a minute yet expansive landscape. The work's glowing presence and formal strength demonstrate a strong and capable voice from a young artist."
The exhibition is on display at Bayside Gallery until Sunday 2 July. Visitors to the exhibition can vote for their favourite painting to be recognised with a $1,000 People's Choice Award, announced upon the closing of the exhibition.
Discover all the finalists from the Bayside Acquisitive Art Prize 2023.
