Local Melbourne Freelance Artist Lilah Benetti has taken out the top award in this year’s Wyndham Art Prize.
Benetti took out the $15,000 prize for her photographic portrait titled ‘More like a River’, a powerful image that captured the judges imagination and speaks about futures.
The highly sought after Local Emerging Art Prize, a $5,000 acquisitive for a local artist who has been practicing for five years or less, was awarded to local artist Ivy Mutuku for the video ‘The Way She Looks’ which will now be part of the Wyndham City Contemporary Art collection.
The Wyndham Art Prize, now in its eighth year, again attracted some fantastic artwork.
Last night’s event was extra special as it also included the launch of Wyndham Art Gallery’s new publication, DECADE 2011-2021, a celebratory publication which reflects on the last 10 years of artistic programming, co-published with Black Ink Books. DECADE acknowledges the wonderful artists and the rich variety of exhibitions that have graced the Wyndham Art Gallery walls since 2011.
The annual contemporary art prize attracts entries from some of the best artists across Australia and offers a chance for local and emerging artists to exhibit alongside them.
Wyndham City Creative City portfolio holder Cr Marcel Mahfoud said: “Projects such as this encourage creativity and artistic expression and strengthen community.”
“It’s Wyndham Art Gallery’s annual gala event and it didn’t disappoint as an exciting exhibition opening.”
“It is wonderful to have the Wyndham Art Gallery, energised, vibrant and full of life again with the creative artistic works on display.”
The Wyndham Art Prize 2022 brings together creatives from Wyndham and across Melbourne.
The 2022 Wyndham Art Prize has more than 400 artworks submitted. Of those, 80 were selected as finalists for this year’s exhibition including 14 local artists.
“We have paintings, futuristic computer generated photography, sculptures, video, gelatin silver prints, drawings and many other wonderful creations on display,” Cr Mahfoud said.
The judges, Maree Clarke, Hayley Miller Baker and Andy Butler had a difficult task to select the winners from the final 80 artworks in the exhibition.
The exhibition is on display until 7 August. Entry to the Gallery is free and opening hours are Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, and 11am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. The gallery is closed on public holidays.
Come and visit the Wyndham Art Gallery and see the amazing talent on display and don’t forget to cast your vote in person via the art gallery ballot box for the third Prize the People’s Choice Award of $2,500 which will be announced at the opening of ISTHMUS, our upcoming exhibition on 24 August.
The Art Gallery is a key destination in Werribee City Centre which continues to evolve to be a vibrant place for people to live, work, study and visit.
