Get your sneak peek of Gosford's premier annual art prize

Showing in the Central Coast community since the 70s, the annual Gosford Art Prize continues to attract attention across the country, with 133 finalist artworks selected for this year's exhibition at Gosford Regional Gallery and Edogawa Commemorative Garden.

The finalists include 11 interstate works, demonstrating that the Gosford Art Prize continues to attract attention from across the country. Amazingly, almost one third of the finalists are from the Central Coast, showing the strength of artistic talent blossoming in our region. An expert judging panel aimed to feature artworks that include a variety of styles, content and techniques - which you can feel as soon as you enter the gallery space!

The winners of this year’s Gosford Art Prize have now been announced (check out the list below!) with $28,000 in prize money awarded to a talented collection of artists from across the Central Coast and beyond. 
    
The 2022 Gosford Art Prize will run at Gosford Regional Gallery from 20 August – 23 October 2022, open from 9.30am – 4pm daily. Everyone is welcome to visit, and entry is free for this exceptionally diverse snapshot of our artistic landscape of our community's collective consciousness right now.

After browsing the exhibition and voting for your favourite artwork in the Viewer's Choice Award, there's East Gosford and Caroline Bay right on your doorstep to explore! Discover local bakeries like Ooomph, friendly cafes Fedele's, Fahrenheit and Sweet Caroline, stunning flowers and coastal homewares at Piccolo Pear, clothing boutiques and a beautiful waterside stroll.

The 2022 Gosford Art Prize winning works were chosen by judges Emily Rolfe (Curator of Contemporary Visual Arts at Campbelltown Arts Centre), and Vicki Grima (The Australian Ceramics Association and editor of Journal of Australian Ceramics), who commented "Overall, the selected prize-winning works were strong, showing a high degree of skill, consideration and integrity. They are impressive works."

First Prize

The $15,000 First Prize was awarded to Central Coast artist, Claire Tozer, for her artwork titled 'Web', acrylic and ink on canvas, 150cm x 200cm. In her artist statement Tozer explains a little background on her work:

"Walking through the wetlands in Davistown, early morning, the mist and sun were making the network of spiderwebs shimmer between the reeds and bushes; the colours of the water was the backdrop."

Tozer’s use of ink and paint portray a delicate poetry of lines reflecting an interpretation of her surrounding environments. Tozer has been awarded several prizes including being Highly Commended in the Ewart Art Prize, Hornsby Art Prize and in the 2019 Gosford Art Prize. This captivating artwork will be acquired by Central Coast Council for the Council Collection.

Second Prize

This year, Second Prize was awarded to Central Coast artist, Muamer Cajic, for his work titled 'Inselberg', colour pencil on paper, 74cm x 86cm, which is a wonderfully skilled drawing exploring the body as a resilient carrier, intimately connected to the mind, with the artist stating:

“Body and mind are intimately connected. Through gesture and form swathes of experiences are communicated; narratives of resilience. Like mountains resist wind and rain our bodies carry us through this world and like the markings of time on the land our bodies are marked.”

More talented winners of the 2022 Gosford Art Prize include:

Aboriginal Artist Prize – Charmaine Davis for Washpool calling, acrylic on canvas, 92cm x 92cm.   

Highly Commended Art Prize – Ali Tahayori for There is no queer in Iran, mixed media, hand-cut mirrors and plaster on aluminium Di Bond (text-based mirror-work), 90cm x 60cm x 2cm.     

Highly Commended Art Prize – Karen Coull for The Sunday Tablecloth, vintage paper collage / acrylic paint, 101cm x 101cm x 3cm.   

Gosford Ceramics Prize – David Boyle for Secret Meeting of the Bouddi Scribbly Bark, horse hair Raku fired ceramic, 23cm x 30cm x 30cm.   

Highly Commended Ceramic Prize – Peter Steggall for Forest, ceramic clay and glaze, Kintsugi resin, 66cm x 22cm.

With all finalist pieces now on display at Gosford Regional Gallery until 23 October, a visit would make the perfect day out for the school holidays, a rainy day wet weather activity, or an overdue date with your art-loving mate. 

The Gallery are inviting every visitor to participate in the Viewer’s Choice Award for 2022, where a prize of $500 will be announced at the end of the exhibition to the most popular people's artwork.

Want to enjoy the exhibition as an immersive experience? Free Artist Walk and Talk + morning tea tours are available to book for 11am Saturday 8 October 2022. This will includes a free casual guided tour around the Gosford Art Prize with top 3 prize winning artists Claire Tozer, Muamer Cajic and Ali Tahayori. Each will share their practice and insight on their works, followed by a chance to meet the artists with morning tea in the galleries. Bookings are essential for this event.

 

 

 

 

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