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About the Art Prize Cover the Art Prize catalogue. <span class="sr-only">opens in a new window</span>

The City of Rockingham Art Prize (formerly the Art Awards) recognises artistic achievement in a range of categories. Each year Western Australian emerging and professional artists are invited to submit their works for selection, in any two or three-dimensional medium.

The City of Rockingham Art Prize returned in 2023, with a new name and new prize categories.

Congratulations to all of the finalists for 2023 whose works were exhibited at the Rockingham Arts Centre from Saturday 6 May to Sunday 21 May 2023. 

Art Prize 2023 Catalogueopens in a new window  

Insight tour

Visitors explored the Art Prize from new perspectives at an after-hours Insight Tour. Curator Sandra Murray was joined by a selection of this year's finalists, including Emerging Artist Award winner DoodlesinTransit and Local Resident Award winner Michael Doherty, at the Rockingham Arts Centre on Sunday 14 May.

Virtual tour

Missed the exhibition? View the virtual tour of the City of Rockingham 2023 Art Prize.

Virtual Tour of the Art Prizeopens in a new window

 

2024 Art Prize

Mark your calendar. The City of Rockingham Art Prize will return in 2024, from Saturday 15 June to Sunday 30 June 2024 at the Rockingham Arts Centre.

Stay tuned, more information will be released in the lead up to the event.

Key dates

MilestoneDate
Entries openWednesday 1 November 2023
Entries closeFriday 16 February 2024
Exhibition open to the publicSaturday 15 June 2024
Exhibition closesSunday 30 June 2024

Curator opportunity

The City of Rockingham is seeking an experienced Curator to lead the City’s 2024 Art Prize. 

The role will be responsible for the provision of a range of curatorial and administrative duties.

Interested in applying? Please submit a Request for Quote to customer@rockingham.wa.gov.auApplications close 4pm Tuesday 3 October.

2023 Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the City of Rockingham 2023 Art Prize:

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Category Prize Amount (all non-acquisitive)Selection CriteriaWinners
First Prize$10,000Presented to the most outstanding artwork

Elmari Steyn, 'Fragmented Arboretum I'

Small Sculpture Award$4,000Awarded for three dimensional media, defined as having depth as well as height and width, not being flat or framed, including sculpture, ceramics, woodwork, textilesBjoern Rainer-Adamson, 'We are still here?'
Aboriginal Artist Award$2,000 and Artsource MAX membership for one year (valued at $340)Most outstanding artwork by an artist identifying as of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descentTaylor Gollan, 'Discounted Deli'
Emerging Artist Award$2,000 and Artsource MAX membership for one year (valued at $340)Most outstanding work by an artist in the first seven years’ of their practice since graduating from tertiary studies or commencing their career as an artist

DoodlesinTransit, 'The new machine'

Local Resident Award$1,500Most outstanding work by an artist residing within the City of RockinghamMichael Doherty, 'Lake Walyungup, Rockingham'
People's Choice Award$500Awarded to the artist whose artwork receives the most votes from members of the publicJayda Brown, 'Wardan Boodjar'

 

2023 Winners Gallery

  • Winners with Mayor Deb Hamblin, Cr Robert Schmidt, Artsource Director and CEO Peter Grant, Art Prize curator Sandra Murray and judge Dr Laetitia Wilson.
  • First Prize Winner Elmari Steyn with artwork 'Fragmented Arboretum I'
  • Elmari Steyn, 'Fragmented Arboretum I', 2023, multi-plate etching, aquatint, Chine-collé, hand coloured with 23k gold leaf, 70 x 40 cm
  • Small Sculpture Award Winner Bjoern Rainer-Adamson with artwork ‘We are still here?’
  • Bjoern Rainer-Adamson, ‘We are still here?’, 2023, steel, rubber, electronics, found objects, 62 x 30 x 30 cm
  • Aboriginal Artist Award Winner Taylor Gollan with artwork ‘Discounted Deli’
  • Taylor Gollan, ‘Discounted DelI’, 2022, acid metal etching onto print paper with black etching ink, 59 x 60 cm
  • Emerging Artist Award Winner DoodlesinTransit with artwork ‘The new machine’
  • DoodlesinTransit, ‘The new machine’, 2023, aerosol, acrylic and ink on canvas, 100 x 100 cm
  • Local Resident Award Winner Michael Doherty with artwork 'Lake Walyungup, Rockingham'
  • Michael Doherty, ‘Lake Walyungup, Rockingham’, 2023, oil on canvas, 100 x 100 cm
  • Mayor Deb Hamblin and Cr Robert Schmidt with First Prize Winner Elmari Steyn
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Information for artists

  • 2023 Art Prize Curator Sandra Murray

    Sandra Murray is the Art Prize Curator for 2023. Sandra is a leading independent curator, arts consultant and artist mentor. She has a depth of experience in working with artists, collections, and exhibitions, including directing and curating for art and museum institutions in WA and NSW, and has worked in the public, corporate, not-for-profit, and private sectors.

    Sandra has project managed and curated over 60 art and museum exhibitions and is the Artistic Director/Lead Curator of Sculptures at Bathers. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours in Art History and Theory, and a Master of Philosophy. 

  • 2023 Art Prize Judges

    The City is pleased to appoint Stuart Elliott and Laetitia Wilson as the judges for the Art Prize 2023. 

    Stuart Elliott

    Stuart is a highly regarded WA artist who graduated as a Sculpture major from Curtin University in 1980. He has held 24 solo exhibitions, participated in a range of state, national and international group shows, and is represented in all public and many private WA collections as well as internationally.

    A monograph on Stuart’s work accompanied a retrospective at Perth’s Central TAFE Gallery in 2003. He won the Cossack Art Award in 2010 and BHP’s Ignite grant in 2015.  In 2016 he was selected for the renowned sculpture commission Syndicate III: The Council with 10 works. He is working towards a survey solo exhibition at Mundaring Arts Centre.

    Dr. Laetitia Wilson

    Laetitia is a Perth-based curator, arts writer and art history lecturer. She is the Exhibitions Manager and Curator of the prestigious Holmes à Court Gallery in West Perth and curates and manages art exhibitions for both there and at Vasse Felix in Margaret River. She completed a PhD in Media Art theory in 2011 at the University of Western Australia.

    Laetitia worked at the University of Western Australia as a lecturer and curator and was an art critic for the West Australian from 2012-2017. She has published widely across the arts and curated for the Perth International Arts Festival, Moana Project Space and Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts.

Sponsor

With thanks to our 2023 sponsor Artsourceopens in a new windowopens in a new window

Artsource logo <span class="sr-only">opens in a new window</span> <span class="sr-only">opens in a new window</span>

Artsource (The Artists Foundation of WA) is Western Australia’s leading visual arts network and membership organisation for artists. They champion Western Australia’s visual arts community through professional resources for artists, advocacy, facilities (including studios), tailored insurance, and a host of other services.

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