With over 1,000 entries submitted across an eight-week exhibition period at Lismore Regional Gallery, the winner of the 2018 Hurford Hardwood Portrait Prize People’s Choice Award has been revealed – Perth-based artist Kendal Gear for her oil painting, Self-portrait (2017).
‘It was great to be part of the exhibition and it’s so exciting and encouraging to receive this award, and prize money of $1,000. It’s come at a really good time for me,’ proclaimed the artist.
Kendal Gear, Self-portrait, 2017, oil on canvas. Courtesy the artist and Lismore Regional Gallery, New South Wales
Director of Lismore Regional Gallery, Brett Adlington congratulated the winner, saying:
‘For us, the Hurford Hardwood Portrait Prize is a chance to support a broad range of artists, emerging and established; local and national. We also see this award as a chance for the community to engage with a whole range of artistic styles, and the People’s Choice Award is a chance to acknowledge this. Kendal’s work is exquisite in its detail and craftsmanship – and obviously resonated with our audiences.’
Acknowledging their support of the People’s Choice Award, Brad Gosling of Chandlers Betta Home Living, Lismore said:
‘This portrait prize is a great way to celebrate the art of portraiture, and like The Archibald Prize, we know that many visitors like to have their say about who they think the winner should be. It’s for this reason we were happy to support the People’s Choice Award in the Hurford Hardwood Portrait Prize, and would like to congratulate the winner, Kendal Gear, on being voted favourite by visitors to the gallery.’
Director of the Art Gallery of NSW, Dr Michael Brand, previously named Nicole Kelly as the winner of the $10,000 Hurford Hardwood Portrait Prize with her work, Jumaadi + Clouds + Rain, which now enters Lismore Regional Gallery’s permanent collection.
