Now in its 15th year, the annual Paddington Art Prize is a national acquisitive award for a painting inspired by the Australian landscape – a significant contemporary genre with a long tradition in Australian painting and a key contributor to our national ethos.
The Paddington Art Prize offers $30,000 to the overall winner, additional laurels include: a $3,000 Honourable Mention sponsored by Chris Antico; a Highly Commended Award with a $1,000 gift certificate from The Sydney Art Store; the People’s Choice Award with a $1,000 gift certificate from Charvin Oils Paris; and the opportunity to create a limited edition print with master printer, Michael Kempson, presented by and UNSW Art & Design. Louisa Antico from Sofala Cottage will offer a selected artist a one week retreat at her historic miner’s cottage in Sofala in the beautiful Turon Valley, 40km north of Bathurst on the road to Hill End; and Defiance Gallery Directors, Campbell Robertson-Swann and Lauren Harvey will select two artists to have an exhibition with Defiance Gallery at Mary Place Gallery in Sydney. Winners of the Defiance Gallery Prize will also receive an invitation to the Nock Art Foundation Residency, Queenstown, New Zealand during 2019 including three weeks accommodation at ‘Giverny’ with studio facilities.
Winner Paddington Art Prize 2017 – Tim Allen, Fissure (Gardens of Stone), oil on linen, 136 x 183cm
The Paddington Art Prize 2018 finalists are;
Liam Ambrose, Sally Anderson, Susan Baird, Christian Bonett, Andre Bowen, Kate Briscoe, Annabel Butler, Susanne de Berenger, Kate Dorrough, Dongwang Fan, Aaron Fell-Fracasso, Annalisa Ferraris, Neil Frazer, Hayley Megan French, Ashley Frost Nyaparu (William) Gardiner, Chick Gordon, Lorna Grear, Nick Hall, Belynda Henry, Michelle Hungerford, Eunjoo Jang, Nicole Kelly, Belem Lett, Steve Lopes, Cowboy Loy Pwerl, Fiona Lowry, Kiata Mason, Sian McNabney, Julian Meagher, Justine Muller, Esther Neate, Virge Nielsen, Katya Petetskaya, Charmaine Pike, Al Poulet, Bundit Puangthong, Marissa Purcel, Charmaine Pwerle, Kate Shaw, Patrick Shirvington, Dee Smart, Peter Stevens, Sally Stokes, Remnim Alexander Tayco, Rex Turnbull, Tony Twigg, Goompi Ugerabah, Ben Ward, Stuart Watters, Barbara Weir, Darren White, Robert Whitson, Alan Young, and Yvonne Zago.
Winner Sofala Cottage Prize 2017 – Catherine Cassidy, Night Turpentine Road, synthetic polymers, oilstick on polyester, 150 x 150cm
This year’s judging panel includes: Katrina Cashman, Assistant Director/ Senior Curator at Mosman Regional Art Gallery; Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, artist and Associate Lecturer at UNSW Art & Design; and Tony Costa, artist and winner of the 2014 Paddington Art Prize.
A finalists’ exhibition will be held at Menzies Art Brands, 12 Todman Avenue, Kensington NSW, from 15 to 22 September 2018. Opening night and winners announced on Monday 17 September, 6-8pm.
The Paddington Art Prize was established in 2014 by Marlene Antico OAM in order to assist with the monetary difficulties that often impede artists from showcasing their works. As an art student, gallery owner and volunteer guide at the Art Gallery of New South Wales for over 10 years, she has underscored her commitment to supporting contemporary Australian artists, aware, of the financial concerns that prevent many artists from devoting themselves entirely to their art practice – ‘I sincerely hope that the prize money will enable artists to focus more solidly on their work and pursue their careers’, Marlene explains.
