The winners of the Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize were announced at a virtual Opening Night event on Friday 14 May.
The Professional Artists’ Prize was won by Caroline Rothwell for her work Vault, which depicts a ‘Cabinet of Curiosity’ reminiscent of the 19th century practice of displaying dried or preserved natural objects. Vault was created through a variety of techniques such as painting, drawing, cutting and stencilling. The judges described it as a marvellously layered, beautiful and poignant work executed with, ‘great skill and playful confidence.’ The painting has an ‘intriguing and ambiguous monochromatic architectural depth, a bit like a double exposure,’ they said. Caroline is currently showing in Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art.
The winner of the Emerging Artist’s Prize was Symone Male for her work Contagious.This is a lively, upbeat and theatrical painting about the pandemic that depicts a woman in the act of ‘performative cleaning’. The title has a double meaning; the covid pandemic is contagious but so is the love and joy generated when helping vulnerable people in need. In the words of the judges, ‘The painting uses humour and bright clear colours to deliver its meaning at one stroke.’
The winner of the Emerging Indigenous category was Imelda Wood Melamurrk, an artist from the Bugul community in the Daly River, Northern Territory. She won for an exquisitely painted piece titled My Sister’s Birth on a Full Moon. It depicts the birth of her younger sister and is a ‘womens’ business’ painting – an abstract interpretation of a birth taking place in a special outdoor coastal place. The judges said the ‘colour and shapes are meticulously controlled to result in a powerful artwork both intimate and expansive.’
The Highly Commended artists in the Professional category were:
- Emily Parsons-Lord – Standing Still (with practice, one may learn to accept the feelings of groundlessness)
- Leila Jeffreys -The wound is the place where the light enters – Bleeding heart dove
- Andrea Wilson – Forebears
The Highly Commended artists in the Emerging category were:
- Brittany Jones – Saudade
- Belle Raine – 2
- Jessica Vincenza – While Away, My Home Lost Colour and Sound
The Highly Commended artists in the Indigenous Emerging category were:
- Cynthia Burke – Landscape
- Louise Daniels – Fallen
The Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize is an annual acquisitive prize, launched in 2017 to advance art and opportunity for emerging and established women artists. It is the highest value professional artist prize for women in the country.
The Prize consists of three categories – the Professional Artist Prize of $35,000, the Emerging Artist Prize of $5,000 and the Indigenous Emerging Artist Prize of $5,000.
Artwork judging is overseen by the Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize Patron and acclaimed artist, Jennifer Turpin.