The Prize

This year marks the 10 year anniversary of Bluethumb. That’s 10 years of supporting Australian artists in all stages of their careers; 10 years of helping collectors connect directly with Australian artists; 10 years of being the true: Home of Australian Artists.<br><br>To mark this momentous milestone, we’re making the 2022 prize bigger and better than ever before. The Bluethumb Art Prize will be the largest and richest art prize in Australian history, with a total prize pool of A$250,000. We’re excited to be back hosting the awards ceremony in person again this year, which will take place at our new flagship gallery in Richmond, Melbourne on Thursday 27 October 2022.

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The finalist artwork with the highest overall score from our expert Judging Panel will win the top cash prize of A$150,000. This will be the Bluethumb Art Prize 2022, Overall Winner.

The Overall Winner will be invited to exhibit at the Bluethumb Art Prize 2022 Winners’ Exhibition to be held at Bluethumb’s flagship gallery in Richmond, Melbourne.
All category winners will receive cash prizes and will be invited to exhibit at the Bluethumb Art Prize 2022 Winners’ Exhibition.

The category awards and respective cash prizes are as follows:

  • Abstract Award: A$10,000
  • Landscape Award: A$10,000
  • Portrait Award: A$10,000
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Award: A$10,000
  • Still Life Award: A$10,000
  • Photography Award: A$10,000
  • Digital Award: A$10,000
  • Sculpture Award: A$10,000
In addition to the Overall Winner and Category Award winners, there are two Special Awards as follows:

The Founders’ Award:

After its successful launch last year, The Founders’ Award will return again in 2022. This award is judged by Bluethumb co-founders and brothers Edward and George Hartley, and is for large statement pieces (at least 1.5m on one side) as this is the most popular and in-demand artwork on Bluethumb.

The winner of the Founders’ Award will receive a A$10,000 cash prize.

The People’s Choice Award:

The People’s Choice award is voted for online by the public from the pool of finalists when they’re announced on Thursday 29 September 2022. The People’s Choice award winner will be announced on Thursday 10 November 2022 and receive a A$10,000 cash prize.

For the People's Choice Award, the public (excluding Bluethumb employees and their families) can vote for their 5 (five) favourite artworks from Thursday 29 September until Wednesday 9 November 2022 and will go in the running to win a ‘favourited’ artwork valued up to A$2,000. The winner will be picked at random and informed accordingly.

2022 Judges

Our Judging Panel consists of some of Australia’s most-renowned artists, including the 2022 Archibald Prize winner and our reigning Bluethumb Art Prize holder. This year’s panel is diverse and qualified and will not only pick great winners, but continue to bring our prize and our artists the national attention they deserve. The finalists will be shortlisted by the Bluethumb Selection Panel before being handed over to our esteemed panel of judges.

Del Kathryn Barton

Two-time winner and three-time finalist of the Archibald Prize, Del Kathryn Barton is best known for her playful and often kaleidoscopic depictions of people and animals.

Tamara Dean

Critically acclaimed photo media and installation artist whose work explores the connection between nature and the moments of transition in our lives.

Blak Douglas

Winner of the 2022 Archibald Prize, with proud Dhungatti Aboriginal origins, Blak Douglas evokes the need for cultural and political change - but often with a sense of irony and hint of sarcasm.

Kathrin Longhurst

Packing Room Prize winner 2021 and Archibald finalist many times over, Kathrin Longhurst is a renowned contemporary figurative artist known for her arresting and provocative paintings.

Loribelle Spirovski

Winner of the 2021 Bluethumb Art Prize, Loribelle Spirovski returns this year as one of our esteemed judges. Her work spans numerous styles including traditional portraiture and surrealism.

Edward and George Hartley

The Founders’ Award is judged by Bluethumb co-founders and brothers Edward and George Hartley.

2022 Finalists

33cm (W) x 71cm (H)

Sculpture

A$3,690

Gone to
TAS
Gone to TAS

46cm (W) x 61cm (H)

Oil

A$1,250

Gone to
SA
Gone to SA

40.5cm (W) x 51cm (H)

Acrylic

A$680

Gone to
QLD
Gone to QLD

50cm (W) x 40cm (H)

Oil

A$2,230

61cm (W) x 51cm (H)

Oil

A$2,950

114cm (W) x 150cm (H)

Drawing

A$16,150

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76cm (W) x 102cm (H)

Acrylic

A$3,420

100cm (W) x 100cm (H)

Oil

A$1,840

200cm (W) x 100cm (H)

Oil

A$3,400

55.5cm (W) x 71cm (H)

Acrylic

A$1,800

40cm (W) x 32cm (H)

Watercolour

A$320

Gone to
VIC
Gone to VIC

95cm (W) x 60cm (H)

Acrylic

A$1,800

Gone to
NSW
Gone to NSW

40.6cm (W) x 50.8cm (H)

Acrylic

A$990

102cm (W) x 102cm (H)

Acrylic

A$3,000

220cm (W) x 95cm (H)

Acrylic

A$3,900

Gone to
NSW
Gone to NSW

220cm (W) x 95cm (H)

Acrylic

A$3,900

36cm (W) x 30cm (H)

Photograph

A$390

61.4cm (W) x 61.4cm (H)

Acrylic

A$810

76.2cm (W) x 60.9cm (H)

Acrylic

A$880

95cm (W) x 95cm (H)

Acrylic

A$2,660

57cm (W) x 54cm (H)

Oil

A$600

50.5cm (W) x 40.5cm (H)

Oil

A$390

122cm (W) x 153cm (H)

Acrylic

A$8,390

40cm (W) x 30cm (H)

Watercolour

A$350

60cm (W) x 60cm (H)

Acrylic

A$1,500

61cm (W) x 61cm (H)

Acrylic

A$490

Gone to
NSW
Gone to NSW

50cm (W) x 60cm (H)

Acrylic

A$490

Gone to
VIC
Gone to VIC

92cm (W) x 61cm (H)

Acrylic

A$330

61cm (W) x 76.4cm (H)

Oil

A$470

71cm (W) x 105cm (H)

Acrylic

A$4,050

Gone to
SA
Gone to SA

60cm (W) x 90cm (H)

Oil

A$12,000

65cm (W) x 65cm (H)

Oil

A$5,000

23cm (W) x 29cm (H)

Oil

A$560

Gone to
NSW
Gone to NSW

206cm (W) x 154cm (H)

Mixed Media

A$6,950

70cm (W) x 70cm (H)

Oil

A$4,250

30cm (W) x 34cm (H)

Mixed Media

A$360

65cm (W) x 65cm (H)

Oil

A$5,000

152cm (W) x 105cm (H)

Acrylic

A$1,850

Gone to
NSW
Gone to NSW

65cm (W) x 65cm (H)

Oil

A$5,000

59cm (W) x 50cm (H)

Watercolour

A$550

Gone to
SA
Gone to SA

24cm (W) x 38cm (H)

Oil

A$560

Gone to
NSW
Gone to NSW