The eastern suburbs’ premier sculpture prize and one of the nation’s richest has opened entries, with hundreds of artists expected to take part in the prestigious program.
The Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize has entered its 25th year with the opening of entries, with a prize pool of $29,000 available for sculptures no larger than 80cm.
The internationally recognised prize was established in 2001 and is presented by Woollahra Council through its art gallery.
Dozens of finalists are set to be chosen from hundreds of entries, with finalists across four categories to be announced on August 10.
Director of Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf, Sep Pourbozorgi, says “over the last 25 years, the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize has been a stage for an extraordinary community of artists”.
“Artists like Archie Moore, Adam Cullen, and Mikala Dwyer, have shaped the prize with their bold, inventive work.
Previous winners of the sculpture competiton have been some of the biggest names in Australian art, with Adam Cullen a previous winner of the Archibald Prize and Mikala Dwyer’s work included in significant collections across the country.
Archie Moore won the prize in 2010, and went on to take home one of the global art world’s most prestigious prizes in 2023 – the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale.
While this year’s judges have yet to be announced, Mr Pourbozorgi said previous years had included “some of the art world’s most respected leaders” including cultural patron Wendy Whiteley and Art Gallery of NSW senior curator Justin Paton.
“Here’s to the artists, the judges, and everyone who has been part of the journey so far, and to the next 25 years of small works with big impact,” he said.
The prize’s four categories are the acquisitive major prize of $25,000, a $2000 special commendation, and Viewers’ Choice and Mayor’s Awards each carrying a prize of $1000.
Funding for the prize is typically raised from entry fees and sponsorship, including from this masthead.
Artist Lynda Draper has exhibited as a finalist in the prize 11 times, and said across the years “it has been interesting to trace the evolution of my art practice”.
“The prize has been a wonderful platform to exhibit new developments in my practice and to test ideas within a broader contemporary sculpture context,” she said.
“Each submission marked a moment in the progression of my work, allowing me to reflect on where the practice had been and where it was heading.”
The exhibition of finalists will take place at Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf from October 2 and is set to be free to attend.
Originally published as Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize opens entries for 25th year