2017 Wellington Youth Art Prize Winners Announced

Tuesday 06 June 2017

This year’s Wellington Youth Art Prize has been the most successful since it was introduced in 2012, with over 100 entries from young artists across the Shire.

The winners were announced at a well-attended gathering at the Maffra Exhibition Space on Thursday 1 June and the entries will be exhibited until Monday 24 July.

The entries were judged by Jes John, a visual artist and entrepreneur from East Gippsland and Steph Sheilds, an artist/educator from the Latrobe Valley. It was a tough job with strong entries across all mediums.

The winners of the 2017 Wellington Youth Art Prize are:

Ages 12 to 14 - Nakiah Robinson (Watercolour and Pencil drawing) with honorable mentions going to Charlotte Perkins (Acrylic Painting) and Montana Neilson (Mixed Media). Ages 15 to 18 - Kaitlyn Francis (Mixed media, photography and sound) and honorable mention going to Alexandra Nair (Resin on Canvas). Ages 19 to 25 Mitchell Johnson (photography) and runner up Shakia Dugan (Acrylic on Canvas).

Mayor Carolyn Crossley said, “Congratulations to all our prize winners, whose works were as diverse in creativity as they were in the different types of mediums used. It is great to see so many entries this year and so much talent we have across the Shire. I am sure many of these young people will go on to be successful artists.”

Our judges were impressed with the entries and congratulate all entrants, acknowledging that it’s a big step to actually share work we put our hearts into. One of the judges said “There were moments when "judging" a winner slipped my mind and I was instead transported to a contemporary exhibition full of intriguing processes and thought provoking ideas. Demonstrated here was experimentation, self expression and finesse of skill. Keep entering art completions and try and make a little art every day. If it’s your dream to be an artist then start to bite down on it now!”

Overall they felt that there was an honest representation on the theme ’Reflection’ and that artists engaged on many platforms such as sound, touch, sense, emotional. For more information, phone Wellington Shire Council’s Youth Liaison Coordinator on 1300 366 244.

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