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2021 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize

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21 June 2021
Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize announces finalists for 20th anniversary exhibition (PDF)
54 Australian and international artists announced as finalists for celebrated Prize to be presented for the first time in the new Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf.

Images (left to right): Seungwan Park, Coexistence-Apollo; Mechelle Bounpraseuth, My parents come from Laos, the land of condiments. Every bottle, every jar reminds me of them; and Stuart McLachlan, Cardinal Sins.

Sydney, Australia: The Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize, presented by Woollahra Council since 2001, today announced 54 emerging and established artists as finalists for the 20th annual Prize and exhibition. The finalist works, by artists from Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Italy, will be presented for the first time in the Woollahra Council’s new purpose-built gallery - the Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf - as its inaugural exhibition, opening to the public on Thursday 19 August 2021.

The 54 finalist artist sculptures – each measuring up to 80cm in any dimension – were selected from a record 844 entries by a judging panel comprised of Director Curatorial and Digital, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia Dr Lara Strongman, Art Historian, Curator and Industrial Archaeologist Joanna Capon OAM and celebrated artist and fashion designer Jenny Kee AO.

Over the past 20 years, more than 800 works have been exhibited, with the winner of each year’s main Award added to Council’s permanent public collection, which is on display year-round for the community to enjoy.

Woollahra Mayor, Councillor Susan Wynne said: “We are thrilled to have received a record number of entries this year as we mark the 20th edition of the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize. To see such an enthusiastic response to the Prize, during a global pandemic only strengthens our commitment to cultural development and reinforces the decision we have made to open our art gallery this year – Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf. The quality and diversity of the finalist works is outstanding, and we cannot wait to welcome visitors into our incredible new gallery to celebrate this much-loved Prize and exhibition in its 20th iteration.”

Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize 2021 judge Dr Lara Strongman said: “This year’s selection of small sculptures represents a snapshot of the great diversity of art practice in Australia today. From glorious kitsch to conceptual rigour, by way of politics and humour, the Award is a showcase for the creativity of Australian artists—both established and emerging.”

The exhibition will be presented, free to the public, in the new Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf, located on the former Double Bay Library site at 548 New South Head Road. The Gallery’s vision is to be the cultural heart of Woollahra and support creative talent to flourish. A collaborative space for all to connect with and be enriched by the arts, the Gallery will focus on contemporary art through a yearly exhibition calendar of a range of diverse shows by different artists.

To mark the 20th anniversary there will be an increased total prize pool of $29,000 across four categories. The Prize categories are the main Acquisitive Award of $25,000; a Special Commendation award of $2,000; the Viewers’ Choice award of $1,000; and the Mayor's Award of $1,000. The 20th anniversary exhibition will also feature a range of public programs including workshops and artist talks.

Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize 20th anniversary judge Joanna Capon OAM commented, “I was impressed by the quality and range of themes of the entries which spanned a number of different media and embraced a variety of references including the pandemic, ecology, hope and humour.”

Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize 20th anniversary judge Jenny Kee added: “I loved the creativity, quality and amazing diversity of the entries!”

Key themes and trends found in the finalist artworks for the 2021 Prize include:

The 20th anniversary Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize finalist artists are: Christine Appleby (ACT) Tamara Baillie (SA) Jacqueline Blight (VIC) Mechelle Bounpraseuth (NSW) Lauren Brincat (NSW) Clare Britton (NSW) Lisa Carrett (NSW) Emma Coulter (VIC) Kate Coyne (NSW) Carol Lehrer Crawford (NSW) Beth Croce (VIC) Anne Delaney (NSW) Jan Downes (NSW) Ann Ferguson (VIC) Jason Fitzgerald (QLD) Natalie Guy (NZ) Michael Harrell (NSW) Sam Harrison (CAN) Shaun Hayes (ACT) Jenny Herbert-Smith (NSW) Sue Hoare (VIC) Kate Howard (VIC) Cara Johnson (VIC) Jules Jones (NSW) Lisa Jones (NSW) Maria Teresa Kuczynska (NSW) Jo Lane (VIC) Barbara Licha (NSW) Keith MacDonald (VIC) Samantha Mackie (NSW) Stuart McLachlan (NSW) Lilach Mileikowski (VIC) Ray Monde (NSW) Josh Muir (VIC) Elena Murgia (NSW) Mika Nakamura-Mather (QLD) Christina Newberry (NSW) Denese Oates (NSW) Amanda Page (VIC) Seungwan Park (ITL) Michelle Perrett (NSW) Sandra Pitkin (NSW) Rodney Pople (NSW) Lisa Porter (UK) Caroline Rothwell (NSW) Rhonda Sharpe (NT) Patricia Smart (NSW) Scotty So (VIC) Jess Taylor (SA) Jane Theau (NSW) Diane Thompson (VIC) Debbey Watson (NSW) David Wood (NSW) Caroline Wright (NSW).

Further details about the winner announcement and new gallery space will be announced in the coming months.

MEDIA CONTACTS: To request interviews, imagery and information in relation to the Prize and Gallery, please contact Articulate: Megan Bentley, megan@articulatepr.com.au, 0452 214 611 or Kym Elphinstone, kym@articulatepr.com.au, 0421 106 139.