The 2019 Mosman Art Prize has been awarded to NSW artist Paul Kelleher for his oil and mixed media painting of Australian bush and farm life superimposed over a large Australian $100 banknote.
The Illawarra-based artist, who recently returned to painting, was presented with the first prize of $50,000 by 2019 judge, artist and former Prize winner, Guan Wei, for The party is over, 2019, on Tuesday 10 September at Mosman Art Gallery.
Further awards presented included the Margaret Olley Commendation Award ($6,000) given to Karlee Rawkins (Glennifer, NSW), the Allan Gamble Award (for built environment) valued at $3,000 won by Zengping Lai (Sydney), and the Guy Warren Emerging Artists’ Award ($2,000) presented to Lachlan Gromek (Shellharbour, NSW).
The 2019 Mosman Art Prize attracted 670 entries from across Australia with 88 paintings selected for the finalist exhibition which is on show until Sunday 27 October 2019.