Collie artist Sarah Smith said she was honoured to be one of the winners of the inaugural Collie Art Prize on Friday night.
The Collie Art Prize is a national competition with the largest single art prize of $50,000 in regional Australia.
Two non-acquisitive prizes of $5,000 and a complimentary exhibition at the Collie Art Gallery were awarded by the Rotary Club to Ms Smith with her charcoal piece Cotton Candy and Darlington artist Alistair Taylor for his painting Synchronymity (96 Alistair Taylors).
Ms Smith was thrilled to have won the award and said it was great exposure for artists like herself.
"I am so honoured this is a really huge thing for a new artist like myself and I feel really proud to represent my hometown as well," said Ms Smith.
The main prize of $50,000 from Bendigo Bank was awarded to Cairns based Torres Strait Islander Brian Robinson with his standout linocut print, By Virtue of This Act I Hereby Take Possession of This Land.
"I am over the moon that I managed to win the inaugural Collie Art Prize." Mr Robinson said.
With over 500 entries only 42 made it to the judging process and final exhibition.
Director of the Art Gallery of Western Australia Dr Stefano Carboni, curator from Bunbury Regional Art Galleries Caroline Lunel, and Artist’s Chronicle publisher Lyn DiCiero judged the exhibition.
“I think we can say we very quickly came to an agreement as to which ones are the top three. We had a fourth as well, but I think that all three of us zoomed quite easily on the top ones.” Dr Carboni said.
Opening night attracted some top-class artists from across Australia, as well as locals, arts lovers, collectors, friends and family.
The theme for this year’s Collie Art Prize was identity, encouraging artists to submit artworks which explored the age-old issue of identity and belonging.
The People’s Choice prize of $1000 by Collie bed and breakfast Whispering Pines is still up for grabs.
To vote for your favourite piece or to view the exhibition head to the Collie Art Gallery from 10am – 4pm until April 15.
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