Bluethumb Art Prize 2022 Winners Just Announced!
After months of behind-the-scenes action, the Bluethumb Art Prize 2022 winners ceremony was held last night in our flagship Richmond gallery. A full house of Bluethumb artists, collectors, team members and, perhaps most importantly, judges and winners joined us from across the country for the 2022 Finalists Exhibition and winners announcement. This year’s winners were selected by an all-star judging panel including Del Kathryn Barton, Blak Douglas, Kathrin Longhurst, Tamara Dean and 2021 Bluethumb Art Prize winner Loribelle Spirovski. We had over 8,000 entries this year – smashing the 2021 record by nearly 3,000 additional entries.
Bluethumb Art Prize 2022 Overall Winner: Midas’ Daughter II – Golden Still Life by Lauren Starr
Following in the footsteps of Loribelle Spirovski, Lauren Starr has taken out the $150,000 Bluethumb Art Prize 2022, scoring her second win in a Bluethumb Art Prize after taking home the Photography Category Award in 2021 for her piece Memento Mori – Colour Flower Feast. A huge congratulations to Lauren!
Midas’ Daughter II by Lauren Starr.
For the second year in a row, Lauren Starr has taken out the Photography Category Award in the Bluethumb Art Prize for her intricate and meaningful photographs. In judging tonight’s winning artwork, Loribelle Spirovski states, “…this is simply breathtaking in its subject and execution. A golden Ophelia. Starr’s visual storytelling is deeply evocative”.
Bluethumb Art Prize 2022 overall winner Lauren Starr in front of her winning work, Midas’ Daughter II – Golden Still Life.
Renowned photographer and 2022 Bluethumb Art Prize judge Tamara Dean explains, “the fairytale reference in this image is potent, reminding the viewer of the true sense of what can be lost in the pursuit of possessions. An age old story, still as relevant today as ever. It takes us into a different world, a world steeped in symbolism. The work is beautifully staged and executed down to the finest details.”
Winner Lauren Starr accepting her award from judge Tamara Dean.
Bluethumb Art Prize 2022 Category Winners
Landscape Award: Milk & Paper by Donovan Christie
The winner of the 2022 Bluethumb Art Prize Landscape Category Award is Donovan Christie with his artwork Milk & Paper, which depicts a nostalgic suburban scene of a classic Aussie milk bar – a scene I’m sure takes us all back to our childhoods.
Milk & Paper by Donovan Christie.
This piece is part of Donovan’s ‘The Milk Bars Are on Me’ series, which “…captured a snapshot of our nostalgic childhoods and the culture during simpler times. It serves as the backdrop to the paths we’ve walked and the landscapes that have carried our stories,” Donovan explains. Our esteemed judge, two-time winner and three-time finalist of the Archibald Prize, Del Kathryn Barton, said she was “…struck by how clean, honest and technically proficient this nostalgic glimpse of everyday life is.”
Donovan Christie in the iconic milk bar.
After being told of the result, Donovan states, “it’s such an honour to receive this award. I’ve been a part of the Bluethumb family for close to 10 years. Watching them build and level up has been an amazing thing to witness. They truly put the artists first and go above and beyond, this year’s prize pool is evidence of this.”
Still Life Award: Home Totem #2 / Sunset by Peter Tankey
Still life can be sombre and contemplative, but also a celebration of basic, material pleasures. One of our esteemed judges, Del Kathryn Barton, said of the winning Still Life entry, “the juxtaposition of old and contemporary-pop symbology evokes layered meanings; both absurdist and political.”
Home Totem #2 / Sunset by Peter Tankey.
The winning piece, Home Totem #2 / Sunset by Peter Tankey, is a part of his home-totem series of still life paintings where he presents regular domestic objects as totemic structures. An American “Minnie-mouse” rests precariously atop a Chinese terracotta warrior replica.
Peter Tankey in front of his winning work Home Totem #2 / Sunset.
Portrait Award: Revelation by Monika Dia’k
Revelation by Monika Dia’k has taken out the Portrait Award, with judge Tamara Dean saying about the winning work: “a captivating and compelling work. The subject matter, the symbolism and the beautifully tender execution make this a stand-out. The gentle gesture of peeling back and revealing. The vulnerability of the figure, and of humanity is gently expressed.”
Monika with her winning piece Revelation.
The figure in Revelation opens herself up both physically and literally, peeling back the layers that protectively shield those parts of our identities that we might withhold from the outside world. Perhaps even from ourselves. Although exposing herself in an unsettling and painfully vulnerable way, at its core the piece is intended as a testament to strength and resilience, touching on universal themes of identity and self-acceptance.
“I am incredibly humbled and grateful to the judges, all of whom I respect deeply. Revelation is a highly personal and intimate self-portrait, and to be recognised for it in this way is an amazing feeling. I was and am utterly speechless at the news, as I was not expecting it at all! All of the finalists’ artworks are incredible and I want to congratulate everyone else as well. Thank you again to the judges, this is a dream come true,” Monika said after finding out the result.
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Award: Kungka Kutjara by Martha Protty
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Award category can only chip the surface at the talent and flair within the oldest art tradition in the world. This year’s Award goes to Martha Protty for her artwork Kungka Kutjara. This piece draws significant inspiration from local landscapes and Tjukurpa (dreaming) stories.
Kungka Kutjara by Martha Protty.
“Protty’s use of colour, forms, patterns, and textures is exhilarating and bold. The contrasting tones and shapes lead the eye through the desert landscape,” judge Tamara Dean says of the winning piece.
Sculpture Award: Revival by Jodi Stewart
It was wonderful to see so many new and existing artists entering the sculpture category this year, and to see the sheer variety and calibre of works that were submitted. This year’s Sculpture Award was awarded to Jodi Stewart for her piece Revival. The sculpture makes a statement not only visually, but also politically. When asked about the sculpture, Jodi reveals, “the drapery partly conceals the bone and this issue of concealment and whitewashing is currently being highlighted and worked out in our culture in relation to various forms of abuse and oppression, including sexual abuse and reclamation of Indigenous history. History is written by the victors and overlaid over the bare reality of what actually happened.”
Revival by Jodi Stewart.
After completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts, majoring in Sculpture, Jodi was selected for a long term artists residency at Clifton Pugh’s Dunmoochin where she spent almost three years living and working on the themes of drapery in the landscape that continue to inform the majority of her work. Jodi explains, “the visual attraction of the flowing curves and different textures of the work invite touch and compel the viewers gaze to trace the lyrical lines of the sculpture, emphasising the sensuality of the material and form.”
“An elegant and evocative merging of forms. I love the simple, layered material curves echoing that of the human form, resting on the bone-like form,” Tamara Dean says of the winning piece.
Abstract Award: Coral Spawn by John Reid
With combinations of bold brushstrokes, explosions of colour, mesmerising patterns and the joy of artistic freedom, it was our pleasure to present the Abstract Category Award to John Reid for his piece Coral Spawn.
Coral Spawn by John Reid.
John is an ‘abstract’ artist in every sense. In his words, “it is the language of paint as a felt sensation that interests me – not images structured as a representation of what which can be put into words”. John’s winning artwork encapsulates that sensation perfectly.
Digital Award: Provolone Pier by Shaz Spannenburg
The winner of the Digital Award went to Shaz Spannenburg for her artwork Provolone Pier. When finding out the result, Shaz exclaimed, “I am lost for words… I still can’t believe it and am so grateful.”
Provolone Pier by Shaz Spannenburg.
The category winning artwork for the Digital Award is a composite from the “Surreal Estates of the Tropical North” series. Shaz explains of the piece, “…the eclectic mix of architecture found in Far North Queensland has been used to create these new surreal buildings which are placed in an environment of less urban clutter, so one sees the architecture in a new light.”
Shaz Spannenburg with her winning artwork, Provolone.
Founders’ Award: To Think About Carefully by Konstantinos
Go big or go home: The Founders’ Award is for works with a minimum length of 150cm on one side and it is judged by our two Co-Founders, Ed and George Hartley.
To Think About Carefully by Konstantinos.
The winner of the Founders’ Award for 2022 is Konstantinos with his self-portrait To Think About Carefully. The portrait depicts artist Konstantinos contemplating, with triple contrasting colours to encourage the viewer to do as the name suggests – to think more carefully. Bluethumb co-founder Ed Hartley said of the piece, “I just connected with the painting. The warm colours, relaxed pose. It’s a state of being I aspire to more often, and masterfully executed.”
Have Your Say
You can now vote for your ten favourite artworks from the 443 finalists for the People’s Choice Award. Not only will you help the artists get one vote closer to winning Bluethumb’s $10,00 People’s Choice Award cash prize, but by sharing your votes you’ll also go in the running to win one of your favourite artworks valued up to $2,000 or one of 5 x $200 Bluethumb vouchers. Click here to cast your vote. Voting closes November 9th 2022.
