2016 Geelong contemporary art prize
The 2016 Geelong contemporary art prize is a signature event that assists with the development of the Gallery’s collection while fostering Australian artists and contemporary painting practice in general.
Showcasing the best of contemporary Australian painting practice, this $30,000 acquisitive award and biennial exhibition will feature 33 works by Penelope Aitken, Robert Andrew, Xiao Bai, Kate Beynon, Warren Breninger, Hector Tjupuru Burton, Deidre But-Husaim, Magda Cebokli, Trevelyan Clay, Jonathan Crowther, Marieke Dench, Shaun Gladwell, Julia Gorman, Michael Gromm, Marie Hagerty, Peter Hill, Naomi Hobson, David Jolly, Col Jordan, Ash Keating, Chris Langlois, Donna Lougher, Viv Miller, Jennifer Mills, Jan Murray, John Nixon, Rosslynd Piggott, Adam Pyett, Sally Ross, Brad Rusbridge, Huseyin Sami, Kate Tucker and Jurek Wybraniec.
The selection panel for the 2016 Geelong contemporary art prize includes guest judge, Victoria Lynn (Director, Tarrawarra Museum of Modern Art) along with Jason Smith (Director, Geelong Gallery) and Lisa Sullivan (Curator, Geelong Gallery).
Winner of the 2016 Geelong contemporary art prize
A narrative-rich, skilfully executed painting by Melbourne artist Kate Beynon is the winner of the 2016 Geelong contemporary art prize, Geelong Gallery’s acquisitive award for contemporary painting.
Kate Beynon’s Graveyard scene/the beauty and sadness of bones 2014–15 is based on a scene from An-Li: a Chinese ghost tale, the artist’s re-telling of a supernatural story of two young spirits who traverse opposing worlds: one aquatic, the other earthly. The painting reveals an interest in connections between mother and child, ancestral spirits, and the cycle of life and death. This prize-winning work—the first by Beynon to be acquired by Geelong Gallery—is highly representative of the artist’s practice in which she merges diverse pictorial traditions with personal histories to address issues of hybridity, cultural identity and feminism.
Gallery Channel
Visit the Gallery Channel to watch interviews with the judging panel.
Contemporary art trends with Victoria Lynn
Prizes, then and now with Lisa Sullivan
Winner of the 2016 Geelong contemporary art prize with Jason Smith