Presented by Woollahra Council, the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize is a national prize for sculptures of smaller dimensions and has attracted strong support from artists, collectors, benefactors, critics, as well as the local community.
This year attracted 666 entries – each for a freestanding sculpture of up to 80cm in any dimension – submitted by artists from Australia, India and the United Kingdom highlighting the Prize’s growing international reputation. Reduced to 48 finalists by two guest judges, Australian arts administrator Michael Lynch AO CBE and Director of independent art advisory LoveArt, Amanda Love, the winners were announced: New-York based, Sydney-born artist Tim Silver and his work Untitled (When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d 02) has won the 18th annual acquisitive $20,000 Prize; Sydney-artist Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran was awarded the Special Commendation award valued at $2,000; and the 2018 Mayors Award valued at $1,000 has been awarded to Lucinda Kirby.

Tim Silver, Untitled (When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d 02), 2016, porcelain, enamel, acrylic, 34 x 44 x 20cm
WA/Victorian-based artist Danielle Freakley received a special mention, with the judges recognising ‘her perfectly conceptual sculpture that is collaborative, engaging and very sophisticated. It pushes the limits of our views on what sculpture is.’
‘The winning works this year speak to art and identity in our current times,’ said Love.
In regards to Untitled (When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d 02), Love commends Silver on making ‘a work that speaks to the whole of art history, reworking it in a contemporary way’.
Lynch adds, ‘Silver’s winning work conveys a sense of the conventions of sculpture in a way that is very 21st century. It comes from a classical tradition whilst appearing to be very much of the moment. We also found ’s sculpture to be a major statement that is as once funny and provocative.’
Silver accepted his award with the following address: ‘Public acknowledgements such as this are a rare occurrence in an artists career and I am thrilled to be the recipient of the 2018 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize. Art is often an isolating pursuit, yet it is rarely performed alone. I would like to thank my collaborators on this project, both those known and unknown.’

Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, Pointy Gold Head, 2018, 24-karat gold plated bronze, 63 x 61 x 26cm
The free exhibition of finalists will be held at Woollahra Council Chambers in Sydney from 20 October to 11 November 2018. The exhibition is supported by a program of free events ranging from artist talks with finalists, creative workshops, a special Grandparents’ Day art appreciation event and guided tours. The Viewers’ Choice award valued at $1,000 to be announced at the end of the exhibition.

Lucinda Kirkby, Genet Yellow Porcelain, porcelain, 15 x 30 x 30cm
2018 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize finalists are:
Annabell Amagula (NT), Uri Auerbach (NSW), Lincoln Austin (QLD), James and Eleanor Avery (QLD), Karen Black (QLD), Tom Blake (NSW), Lauren Brincat (NSW), Bonita Bub (NSW), Alison Clouston (NSW), Steven Cybulka (SA), Karl de Waal (QLD), Paula Dunlop (QLD), Jamie Edward (TAS), Shane Forrest (NSW), Danielle Freakley (WA/VIC), Honor Freeman (SA), Rebecca Gallo (NSW), Mathieu Gallois (NSW), Amala Groom (NSW), Neeraj Gupta (INDIA), Lee Harrop (NT), Anna Horne (SA), Mehwish Iqbal (NSW), Robbie Karmel (NSW), Lucinda Kirkby (VIC), Jasper Knight (NSW), Matilda Kubany-Deane (NSW), Hannah Lees (VIC), Jess MacNeil (UK), Will Maguire (NSW), Rocket Mattler (NSW), Anne-Marie May (VIC), John Nicholson (NSW), Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran (NSW), Kirsten Perry (VIC), Eloise Rankine (NSW), Tim Silver (NSW), Katie Stackhouse (VIC), Abdullah M I Syed (NSW), Julian Talarico (NSW), Sherna Teperson (NSW), Linda Davy and Tim Barrass (ACT), John Tuckwell (NSW), Brendan Van Hek (NSW), Craig Waddell (NSW), Fiona Watson (NSW), Min Wong (WA ), and Ken + Julia Yonetani (NSW).