Afterlife portrait claims top prize

As a little guinea fowl took her final breath under a blanket of shooting stars, little did she know she was about to become a star herself.

Jenni, as the bird was named, lives on, immortalised as the subject of the Major Prize-winning artwork in the 2023 Sunshine Coast Art Prize.

This is thanks to techniques developed by artist Judith Nangala Crispin for creating stunning afterlife portraits.

The Sunshine Coast Art Prize, featuring a diverse range of contemporary art is on show at Caloundra Regional Gallery until October 15, 2023, with works available to view on the gallery website.

Major Prize

The Sunshine Coast Art Prize Major Winner Judith Crispin with Jenni, in spirit form, watches the first UFOs appear above the West MacDonnell Ranges | 2022 | lumachrome | 140 x 97cm receives a $25,000 cash prize, thanks to Argon Law and Sunshine Coast Council.

The winning artwork will now enter the Sunshine Coast Art Collection.

Caloundra Regional Gallery Manager and Curator Jo Duke said the unique and vibrant piece Crispin presented was a worthy winner.

“The techniques used to create this artwork, the composition and the vibrancy of colour, make for a truly special piece,” Ms Duke said.

“The artist invented a technique using a layering practice like lumen printing, cliché-verre and chemigram and uses decomposition chemistry for colour and detail.

“Crispin’s work honours the animals and birds she finds — a practice that has evolved from her heritage as a Bpangerang descendent and her Warlpiri friends.”

From 487 entries received from artists across Australia, 40 finalist works are selected and exhibited, with four pieces taking the eye of the 2023 art prize guest judge Simon Elliott and the visiting public.

People’s Choice

One of the most coveted Art Prize categories is the People’s Choice award, sponsored by the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce. The winner is Sebastian Toast for her work Paddle pool. She receives $2,500.

During the exhibition and online, people were encouraged to vote for their favourite artwork. Sebastian Toast said she enjoyed playing with the element of time when constructing a painting, both in terms of nostalgia, as well as how the painting is viewed. 

“Various aspects reveal themselves at different speeds so that a painting unfolds more like a piece of music or a poem,” Sebastian said.

“In today’s fast paced, “insta-flickering” world, to taking the time to spend with a painting, seems to be one of the most important things we can do.”

Highly Commended Award

Anna Carey is the winner of the Sunshine Coast Art Prize highly commended award with her work ‘You can bring your fantasies to earth’. Carey receives $5,000 courtesy of the De Deyne family.

Artist Residency Award

Previous Archibald Prize winner Fiona Lowry won the Artist Residency for her work ‘In the colour-blind night’ and will take up a two-week artist residency – courtesy of Montville Country Cabins and Sunshine Coast Council.

All finalist artworks are available for purchase, except for the winning work which is now part of the Sunshine Coast Art Collection.

Stay up to date with all the latest news, events and exhibitions by subscribing to the e-newsletter at gallery.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au or following @caloundraregionalgallery on Facebook and Instagram.

Caloundra Regional Gallery is open from 10am until 4pm, Tuesday to Friday, 10am until 2pm weekends and is located at 22 Omrah Avenue, Caloundra.

Find out more about the Sunshine Coast Art Prize on the Gallery’s website https://gallery.sunshinecosat.qld.gov.au

2023 Sunshine Coast Art Prize Winners

Sunshine Coast Art Prize major prize winner – Judith Crispin
Jenni, in spirit form, watches the first UFOs appear above the West MacDonnell Ranges

Guinea fowl painting, against a dark night sky with stars

Sunshine Coast Art Prize highly commended award – Anna Carey
You can bring your fantasies to earth

Earth coloured building with a sign 'You can bring your fantasies to earth'

Artist Residency – Fiona Lowry
In the colour-blind night

Black and white image of a lady lost in thought

People’s Choice – Sebastian Toast (female) for her work
Paddle pool

Pink coloured image of a paddle pool. A small child is in the pool. A lady sits next to it with her feet in the water, while another lady stands