Gemma Smith wins the 2024 Mosman Art Prize
The 2024 Mosman Art Prize, the premier open painting prize in Australia, has been awarded to Sydney based artist Gemma Smith.
Smith has won the $70,000 acquisitive prize for Pollen Prism (2023), made through the accumulation of many single layers applied on a daily basis while on a New York based artist’s residency. It now enters the celebrated Mosman Art Collection, a valuable and historic collection that surveys Australian painting. Smith is a noted painter whose abstract paintings and sculptures explore the interaction between colour and surface, intention and chance.
Smith says: “Pollen Prism was made in response to my time at Art Omi: Artists’ Residency program, where the expansive lush green of the New York rural summer around the studio was overwhelming. Here the methodology was complicated by the local conditions in my open, airy studio known as the Corn Crib – a place where corn was once hung to air-dry. The heat and humidity of high summer meant the paint would tack up quickly, but would ultimately be slow to dry. The resident carpenter bees in the ceiling shared their bright yellow pollen (and occasional leg) with the painting.”
About Gemma Smith:
Gemma is an Australian artist whose work takes the form of both painting and sculpture. Through her explorations of colour theory, pictorial depth and sculptural form, Smith has developed a body of abstract work that both playfully and seriously investigates the shifting pictorial plane. Smith was born in Sydney and based there until 2004; in Brisbane from 2004 to 2012; and in Pittsburgh, United States, from 2012 to 2014. Smith studied at Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney; and Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane. She currently lives and works in Sydney. Since 2000, Smith’s work has featured in more than 100 exhibitions and is currently represented by Sullivan + Strumpf, Sydney and Milani Gallery, Brisbane.
Smith was presented with the first prize of $70,000 by Mayor of Mosman Councillor Carolyn Corrigan and the 2024 judge Julie Ewington at the exhibition opening on the evening of Friday 9 August at Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney.
Commenting on the winning work, judge Julie Ewington says: “Gemma Smith undertakes glorious explorations of colour and gesture. These are governed by rigorous protocols that Smith uses to direct each painting, ensuring that every work will be fresh and surprising, including for the painter. Essentially, Smith’s paintings are exercises in inspired perversity. Pollen Prism is an ode to sensuality; made during a residency in upstate New York, in high summer, it testifies to the season‘s warmth with its rich colours, and the way it registers the exact conditions of its making. Splendid, confident, and affirmative, Pollen Prism holds its divergent energies together in an unlikely, and wonderful, tension.”
Further awards presented on the night included the Margaret Olley Commendation Award ($10,000) given to Khaled Sabsabi, the Allan Gamble Award (for the built environment) valued at $5,000 won by Nick Santoro, and the Guy Warren Emerging Artist Award ($3,000) presented to Jacquie Meng.
The 2024 Mosman Art Prize attracted 1,617 entries from across Australia with 88 paintings selected for finalist exhibition. Artists from all states and territories were selected as finalists.
Commenting on the exhibition this year, John Cheeseman, Director, Mosman Art Gallery says: “2024 is the year that the Mosman Art Prize truly became what it has always promised to be – Australia’s premier open painting prize. With over 1,600 entries from across Australia and 88 finalists selected representing every state and territory, the exhibition provides a national survey of contemporary painting practices. I would like to thank this year’s judge, Julie Ewington, for her phenomenal efforts in selecting finalists and in adjudicating the winning entries. Artists should be thrilled by their achievement in being selected and audiences will be treated to seeing some of the most exciting paintings being made in Australia today.”
Mosman Mayor, Councillor Carolyn Corrigan says: “Mosman Council is proud to once again support the Prize and to demonstrate its continuing support of art and artists. Council is proud to present the 2024 Mosman Art Prize, the oldest and most prestigious municipal art award in Australia, and I personally congratulate all finalists.”
A total of $88,000 in prize money was awarded to artists across four categories:
Major Prize (acquisitive) $70,000 – Supported by Mosman Council
Winner: Gemma Smith
for Pollen Prism 2023, synthetic polymer paint on linen
Margaret Olley Commendation Award ($10,000) – Supported by Gillian and the late Brian Jones
Winner: Khaled Sabsabi
For Popaganda (partA and partB), 2024. Synthetic polymer paint, watercolour and gouache on dye diffusion thermal transfer prints
Allan Gamble Award $5,000 – Supported by BresicWhitney
Winner: Nick Santoro
For 5G Panel, 2024, synthetic polymer paint on board and aluminium
Guy Warren Emerging Artist Award $3,000 – Supported by Fourth Village Providore
Winner: Jacquie Meng
For playing pool, 2023, oil on canvas
2024 Mosman Art Prize details:
- 77 years of the Mosman Art Prize
- On show Saturday 10 August – Sunday 6 October 2024.
- Exhibiting at Mosman Art Gallery, 1 Art Gallery Way, Mosman, NSW, 2088
- Open 7 days, 10am – 4pm, open until 8pm on Wednesdays.
- Exhibition is free to the public
- Public programs include artists talks Wednesday 14 August and 11 September, 6pm-8pm
- Visitors can vote for the Viewers’ Choice Award, (announced prior to the exhibition closing)
The Mosman Art Prize is supported by: Gillian Jones, BresicWhitney, Fourth Village Providore,
Mosman Art Society, Godfrey Wines, Vault Magazine, Nomad Brewing, The Albert Hotel Mosman and Colormaker Industries.