Waverley Art Prize winners announced

16 July 2021

Waverley Council and Waverley Woollahra Art School are pleased to announce the winners of the 35th Waverley Art Prize.

A record-breaking 701 entries were received in this year’s Prize and this is the second year Council has announced the Waverley Art Prize winners online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

You can view the online exhibition here.

We wish to thank our loyal prize sponsor Matisse Derivan, Waverley Woollahra Art School, and our esteemed judges, artists Marisa Purcell and Julian Meagher.

The winners of the 2021 Waverley Art Prize are:

  • Open Prize of $15,000 sponsored by Waverley Council: Graziela Guardino for the work Untitled.
  • Mayor’s Prize of $2,000 sponsored by Waverley Council: Luke Kennedy for the work Summer Twilight
  • Oil Painting Prize of $1,000 sponsored by Waverley Council: Louise Gresswell for the work Untitled Yellow
  • Mixed Media Prize of $500 sponsored by Waverley Council: Annette Bukovinsky for the work Protection Number 2.
  • Drawing Prize of $500 sponsored by Waverley Woollahra Art School: Teo Treloar for the work Twenty Twenty Vision.
  • Acrylic Prize of $500 worth of paint sponsored by Matisse Derivan: Luke Kennedy for the work Summer Twilight. It is the image is shown on the link to this media release.

Waverley Art Prize winner Graziela Guardino for the work Untitled

Judging for the People’s Choice award is open through the Waverley Woollahra Art School website until 19 July.

Mayor of Waverley, Paula Masselos, said the Art Prize is one of the most important cultural events on Waverley’s calendar.

“Difficult times like this, much like creativity and art, generate new ways to bind us together as a community and create a stronger sense of belonging, compassion, care respect and appreciation of the exceptional people around us and the amazing city, Sydney, in which we are privileged to live,” Mayor Masselos said.

“We are looking forward to opening next year’s Waverley Art Prize in our new Bondi Pavilion Gallery and with any luck we will be able to have a fantastic opening event for a physical exhibition.

“Art is a fundamental part of the social fabric. It speaks to the time and place of any community – it has defined our understanding of human history. It helps defines eras and reflects us back to ourselves as a community.

“Art transcends generations. So, while we are now back in lockdown here in Sydney I hope that this year’s announcement, while online again, will give some light to our artistic community and demonstrate to our broader community. And that as long as we continue to support and encourage art and creativity, the future is so very full of promise.

“We have many talented artists and writers who live and work in our community and artistic expression is a very important part of the fabric that makes us who we are. Fostering emerging artists is one of the most important legacies of this prize, and we are proud of all the artists that have entered over the years.”

The judges shortlisted 50 finalists whose works all feature in our online exhibition.

-ENDS-

Media inquiries: media@waverley.nsw.gov.au or 0416 075 532.