GIPPSLAND Art Gallery says it is delighted to announce this year’s finalists for the $30,000 John Leslie Art Prize for landscape painting.
A total of 403 entries were received for the coveted national prize from all states of Australia. Artists had the option to enter up to two paintings each. A total of 52 paintings have been shortlisted this year. The list of finalists includes works by leading and emerging artists from around Australia and spans a wide range of styles and approaches from the field of contemporary landscape painting.
Each of the finalists will be vying for the $30,000 acquisitive first prize to be announced at Gippsland Art Gallery’s Spring Season Launch on Friday, September 6 at 6pm by Wellington Shire Council Mayor, Cr Ian Bye. A second, non-acquisitive prize of $1000 will also be awarded to the Best Gippsland Work. The artwork will be exhibited between September 7 until November 24 at the Gippsland Art Gallery via free entry.
The shortlist of finalists was selected by a panel comprising Melanie Caple, Associate Curator, Gippsland Art Gallery; Juan Ford, Internationally renowned Australian Artist; Dr Sam Leach, Internationally renowned Australian Artist; and Dr Louisa Waters, Curator and Collection and exhibition Coordinator, Gippsland Art Gallery.
The winners will add their names to the growing Hall of Fame for the Prize, and cement their place in Gippsland art history.
The biennial John Leslie Art Prize is one of Australia’s most prestigious prizes for landscape painting. The Prize was inaugurated in 2000 and is named after the Gallery’s Patron, John Leslie OBE (1919-2016). The continuation of this $30,000 acquisitive prize is made possible through the generous ongoing support of the John Leslie Foundation.
An image gallery of all of the shortlisted paintings can be viewed on the Gallery’s website at: gippslandartgallery.com/exhibitions/2024-john-leslie-art-prize
