The Cowra Regional Art Gallery is pleased to announce the winner of the CALLEEN ART AWARD 2024 is Sofala based artist Amanda Penrose Hart for her painting Shepherd’s Lookout 2023, oil on canvas. This exciting acquisitive painting prize worth $30,000 is open to artists across Australia (18 years and over). The CALLEEN ART AWARD was founded by Cowra art patron and collector Mrs. Patricia Fagan OAM in 1977 as a progressive acquisitive contemporary art award to foster creativity and excellence in the visual arts.
The announcement took place in conjunction with the launch of the Calleen Art Award 2024 finalist’s exhibition on Friday night 27 September 2024 with many of the 48 finalists in attendance. The exhibition was opened by Jenni Fagan – Calleen Trustee and the Calleen Art Award winner for 2024 was announced by the Award Judge Richard Perram OAM, independent curator.
Amanda Penrose Hart, Shepherd’s Lookout, 2023, oil on canvas,121 x 198cm.Courtesy the artist and King Street Gallery on William, Darlinghurst. Winner of the Calleen Art Award 2024 acquisitive prize for painting.
Artist Statement
“In painting there is a stillness. I try and go lightly over the landscape – I try to not leave a mark or a footprint I don’t want anyone to know I was there. You can’t catch a cloud, although I try to in a painting. You can’t see heat, but I try and paint it. You can’t see wind, but I try and show it. Ahhh it’s a never-ending challenge – to paint what you can’t see”. Amanda Penrose Hart – artist statement exhibition catalogue.
Judge’s comments
“Judging an art prize is always an exciting thing to do. From the initial culling of the 254 entries from digital slides (in this year’s Calleen Art Award), to the final judging when you meet the 48 shortlisted works in the flesh for the first time, is an experience which I totally enjoy. Being asked by Brian Langer (Director, Cowra Regional Art Gallery) to undertake this role was accepted with great pleasure.
The final shortlisted works is made up of artists whose work I know so well to my discovering new artists whose work excites me, it is always a great experience.
The Calleen Art Award, worth $30,000, is one of the most prestigious acquisitive art awards in regional Australia and is open to anyone over 18 from anywhere in Australia, as such it is totally democratic. This democracy sees every kind of genre included, landscape, still life, abstract and non-representational.” excerpt from the Calleen Art Award announcement speech by the award judge, Richard Perram OAM.
Judges Comment – Winner of the Calleen Art Award 2024
“Amanda Penrose Hart is one of Australia’s most successful and senior plein air painters, having exhibited for over 30 years. Her art practice concentrates on the landscape in the Sofala, Cowra and Canberra region. This work “Shepherd’s Lookout” 2023 is based on the landscape at the back of Canberra in the Brindabellas, only 10 minutes from Canberra. It captures exquisitely this pristine and untouched area. Amanda was initially drawn to this landscape as it was where the great Australian artist Rosalie Gascoigne, who lived at nearby Stromlo, sourced many of the materials for her works. As such Amanda has an affinity with this artist and the landscape”. Richard Perram OAM.
List of Finalists
1. Alyssa Aleksanian
2. Tim Allen
3. Susan Baird
4. Katie Barron
5. Anthony Bartok
6. Andrew Baylor
7. Lee Bethel
8. Kate Briscoe
9. Anthony Cahill
10. Spencer Calveley
11. Ham Darroch
12. Rachel Ellis
13. Julia Flanagan
14. A.F. Fulgence
15. Joanna Gambotto
16. Tim Gregory
17. Melissa Guest
18. Geoff Harvey
19. Michelle Henry
20. Greg Hill
21. Margaret Hogan
22. David Isbester
23. Nicole Kelly
24. Graham Lupp
25. Angela Malone
26. Nicola Mason
27. Kerry McInnis
28. Lisa McKimmie
29. Peta Minnici
30. Tully Moore
31. Ingrid Morley
32. Anh Nguyen
33. Penelope Oates
34. Lucy O’Doherty
35. Amanda Penrose Hart
36. Lori Pensini
37. Sally Robinson
38. Michael Simms
39. Todd Simpson
40. Joanne Sisson
41. Gary Smith
42. Fiona Somerville
43. Brenda Stace Chat
44. Neridah Stockley
45. Zena Vix
46. Guan Wei
47. Madeleine Winch
48. Tim Winter
When visiting the Calleen Art Award finalist’s exhibition visitors are welcome to vote for their favourite painting in the Calleen People’s Choice Award 2024 (non-acquisitive). The winning artist will be announced at the close of the exhibition and will be awarded $1,000, in prize money courtesy of the Gallery Advisory Committee and the Friends of the Gallery.
The Calleen Art Award 2024 exhibition continues to Sunday 17 November 2024 at the Cowra Regional Art Gallery, 77 Darling Street, Cowra. Open: Tues – Sat, 10am – 4pm and Sun 10am – 2pm. Admission free. Cowra Regional Art Gallery is a cultural facility of the Cowra Shire Council.
IMAGE: Amanda Penrose Hart with her winning work Shepherd’s Lookout which will join the Calleen Collection at the Cowra Regional Art Gallery. Photo Amanda Bloomfield.
Text and images supplied by Cowra Regional Art Gallery. Find the gallery on the GALLERIES MAP
