The Inaugural Kangaroo Valley Art Prize 2018 attracted more than 400 entries Australia-wide, growing from a primarily local show to a major regional art prize open to all artists in any style and any medium.
Robyn Kinsela, Rain Setting In, oil on canvas, 30 x 30cm
The winner of the 2018 Kangaroo Valley Art Prize is Robyn Kinsela for her oil painting entitled Rain Setting In.
Highly Commended was shared by Manuela Chapman for Byzantium (Arcadia) I and Jon Frank for his video piece, Music.
The People’s Choice went to Sonja Bowden for her pencil drawing, Chirnside Shearing Shed.
The judging panel included Allan Baptist OAM, artist and curator; Natalia Ottolenghi Bradshaw, art consultant and private art curator; and Therese Kenyon, artist, curator, writer and educator.
Manuela Chapman, Byzantium (Arcadia) I, photo on Arches Aquarelle paper, 80 x 60cm
Jon Frank, Music, video, 7min
When Curator, Allan Baptist OAM, first saw the submissions, he commented, ”This is going to be an exhibition of great promise. The works are some of the most inspirational you will see in regional Australia.’ At the end of the exhibition, he concluded that it was ‘the best regional art show I’ve seen in all of Australia.’
The $5000 Kangaroo Valley Art Prize was made possible by generous donations from Tony White & Alex Michael and an anonymous donor. The $1000 Highly Commended prize was donated by Michael Noonan and Alice Oppen OAM, and the $1000 People’s Choice donated by Jola Masojada, John & Denise Wright and Kerri Carlton & Gary Moore.
Sonja Bowden, Chirnside Shearing Shed, colour pencil on paper, 75 x 90cm
The finalists’ exhibition – together with a solo show by two-time Archibald finalist, Vanessa Stockard – was held at the Kangaroo Valley Hall from 28 September through to 1 October 2018.
