Gaypalani Wanambi’s artwork, Dawurr has been announced as the Professional Artist winner of the 2024 Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize, winning $35,000 in Australia’s highest value professional artist prize for women.
Jade Oakley, Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize Patron, judge and practising acclaimed artist said, ‘The fine engravings of Dawurr have a jewellery-like quality, and light is refracted by the intricately worked surface of the artwork, so that as the viewer moves the shimmering details of the artwork appear to change in response.
Gaypalani is part of the Found movement of artists from East Arnhem Land, who have developed a contemporary practice of making artworks from discarded industrial materials. Dawurr is etched onto a battered, reclaimed road sign and she has used a found object that life has already acted upon, and in doing so has transformed a discarded object into a coveted work of art.’
Gaypalani Wanambi is based in Northeast Arnhem Land, approximately 700km east of Darwin and is represented by Sydney-based gallery Michael Reid.
The Emerging Artist Prize, supported by the Reed Family Foundation, was won by Sydney-based artist Chris Gleisner for her sculpture, Sculpted Triangles, which the judges described as ‘infused with a sense of discovery and play as the artist has experimented and pushed the humblest of materials to explore sophisticated concepts.’
Sisters Nancy Long Nungarrayi and Rene Long Nungarrayi won the 2024 Indigenous Emerging Artist Prize, supported by the Tritton Family, for their collaborative artwork Pereltye. ‘The artwork depicts the Pereltye, bush lollies, that are harvested from the leaves of the River Red Gums. Nancy and Rene remember their mother gathering Pereltye, and they learned how to paint this story from their mother,’ said the judges. ‘The dot points form a shimmering constellation that seems to vibrate with energy and a sense of movement. Through tonal variation, the composition suggests topography or the night sky resplendent with stars.’ Nancy and Rene are from Ali Curung, North East of Alice Springs.
The 2024 Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize Opening Night was filled with excitement as more than 300 attendees, including finalists, parents, Alumni, staff, Art Prize partners and members of the Ravenswood community, came together to celebrate. The Federal Member for Bradfield and Shadow Minister for The Arts Hon Paul Fletcher MP, officially opened the 2024 Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize.
The 117 talented finalists in this year’s Art Prize, comprising of 62 Professional Artists, 47 Emerging Artists and 8 Indigenous Emerging Artists, represented every state and territory in Australia. The People’s Choice Award, supported by Edwina Palmer, hailed Zara Collins as the winner for her outstanding artwork, Sensing Lost Memories.
Principal of Ravenswood School for Girls Mrs Anne Johnstone said, ‘This year we received an impressive 1616 entries, demonstrating the significant role the Art Prize plays in supporting and showcasing current and future generations of artists and empowering them to flourish in their important creative endeavours. The 2024 entries showcase an awe-inspiring exploration of materiality with a notable focus on abstraction, from colour field to lyrical, geometric and minimalist.’
Since its inception in 2017, the Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize has drawn over 11,100 entries, solidifying its pivotal role in shining a spotlight on women artists across Australia. Further underscoring the Prize’s significance in Australian arts, Emerging and Indigenous artists have accounted for 63% of submissions over these eight years.
The Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize is Australia’s highest-value art prize for women artists with a $35,000 Professional Artist Prize, as well as an Emerging Artist Prize of $5,000 and an Indigenous Emerging Artist Prize of $5,000. There is also a People’s Choice Award supported by Edwina Palmer of $2,000 plus a Derivan art pack valued at $500.
Established by Ravenswood School for Girls in 2017 to recognise, encourage and promote women in the visual arts, the Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize is proudly supported by partners The Marshall Group, Trippas White Group, R.M Williams Outback, Active Networks, the Tritton Family, the Reed Family Foundation, Ms Edwina Palmer, The Art Scene, Buildcorp, The Greengate Hotel, Clarke Murphy Print, EPM Projects, Optus, Kelvin Hall Floral Design and Derivan.
2024 Art Prize
2024 Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize Congratulations to our 2024 Winners Professional Artist Winner Gaypalani Wanambi – Dawurr Emerging Artist…
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