Now in its fourth year the Belle Arti Prize is a national acquisitive award of $5000. The Belle Arti Prize is a unique event in that all artists use the same sized 35 x 35 cm stretched canvas from Belle Arti artist linen in Italy, and all artworks are hung and exhibited together in a vast and amazing salon hang of 277 canvases (a single wall hangs 170 works) at Chapman & Bailey Gallery, at 350 Johnston Street, Abbotsford VIC.
From established career artists to outsider art: from urban to country, and remote indigenous communities, the Belle Arti Prize represents a snapshot of a day-in-the-life-of art as it is practiced across Australia on any given day.
The Belle Arti is a popular and well-supported prize, appealing to a broad cross-section of the arts and wider community.
Works were judged by Sally Smart (artist) and Rosslynd Piggot (artist) and the 2012 winner was announced last night at the opening of the exhibition at Chapman & Bailey.
Congratulations to Canberra artist Marie Hagerty for winning the 2012 Belle Arti Prize with her work ‘Focus’. Marie is represented by Karen Woodbury in Melbourne, and Tim Olsen in Sydney. This is the second time that Marie has won the Belle Arti Prize (she was also a winner in 2011).
There were also 10 highly commended awards: Mateja Simenko, Stephanie Turner, Gary Walker, Savina Hopkins, Kirra Jamison, Paul Hodges, Lynne Boyd, Greg Fullerton, Chris Dyson and Eliza Cameron.
The exhibition will continue to run until 26 January 2013.The gallery will be closed between December 24 to January 7, 2013.
All artworks in the Belle Arti Prize exhibition are available for sale.
Chapman & Bailey
Melbourne
Until January 26, 2013
Image: Marie Hagerty, Focus, 2012 (Winner)
Image: Installation view