2023 Waverley Art Prize winners announced

Waverley Council is proud to announce that Carolyn Craig has won the 37^th annual Waverley Art Prize for her compelling mixed media work RE/Mediation, My mother’s broom.

Craig won the $15,000 Open Prize for her work exploring domestic labour and relationships.

Speaking at tonight’s awards presentation at Bondi Pavilion Gallery, Art Prize judges Katrina Cashman, Curator and Gallery Manager, National Art School, and Peter Sharp, artist and Head of Drawing at UNSW’s Arts, Design and Architecture, described Craig’s artwork as “a unique combination and mix of traditional techniques and digital imagery [that] brings a poetic and transformative quality”.

^{Carolyn Craig with her award-winning artwork.}

Highly Commended mentions also went to Sarah Edmondson for Certainly, a beautifully crafted contemporary expression of fabric and textile traditions and Janis Clarke for Seeing You, a deceptively simple painting that evokes a sense of nostalgia but also gives a sense of mystery.

The Waverley Art Prize celebrates excellence across the local arts community and greater Australian contemporary Visual Arts sector and is presented in partnership with the Waverley Woollahra Art School, the longest running artist-run initiative in Waverley.

It was established in 1986 and has a long-dedicated history as a painting and drawing prize, cultivating and supporting local artists with an illustrious alumnus of previous winners.

Mayor of Waverley, Paula Masselos, said almost 800 entries were received in this year’s Prize which included the following major winners:

• Mayor’s Prize ($2000): Damian Dillon, Bloodflowers. Highly Commended went to Carol Archer, for Thicket
• Local Prize: Onrie Radovic, Calibration 20, ($1500).

The Waverley Art Prize exhibition features this year’s 38 finalists and is open until Sunday 13 August.

Voting is now open for the People’s Choice Prize which will be announced after the exhibition closes. To vote, visit wwas.org.au/waverley-art-prize-2023/

Tonight’s opening of the Waverley Art Prize marks the start of Bondi Festival 2023. This 17-day all-inclusive event brings the best in comedy, theatre, the Arts and experiences to Bondi Pavilion and surrounding locations until Sunday 16 July.

Details: bondifestival.com.au

Waverley Art Prize media inquiries: media@waverley.nsw.gov.au or 0416 075 532.