2016 Black Swan Prize

From the People's choice to the main prize, the winners and grinners of the 2016 Black Swan Prize for Portraiture have been announced.

Rachel Coad is the winner of the 2016 Black Swan Prize for Portraiture, awarded $50,000 at the Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA). Coad was recognised for her prolific and consistent practice as a leading portrait artist in WA.

Judges Angus Trumble, Director of the National Portrait Gallery; Alan Dodge, board member of the National Portrait Gallery and former Director of AGWA; and local artist Thea Costanino, were unanimous on their decision. On the emotive portrait they stated, “the winning artwork has a scale and presence and the subject’s personality has been captured superbly. The artist has moved beyond the photo realism and creates a sense of nostalgia through the use of sepia tones, cutting the subject out through a white background creates tension between something that is nostalgic, big scale and popping.”

Daniel Smith and Kate Kurucz were each awarded Highly Commended for their portraits. Smith’s work was complimented by the judges for its “combined killer dead photo realist style with a beautiful sense of light… the artwork reveals a flawless technique, particularly within the constraint of black and white… it’s incredibly deliberate, precise yet intimate and tender.”

Kurucz’s work was recognised for its confident portrayal, as the judges stated “we responded to the work’s intimate scale and its luminous quality of light. The fact that the artist decided to have the subject facing away from the viewer tells us a lot about his character and personality…the treatment is confident, warm and bold without being flamboyant.”

In an exciting new addition, the first of its kind in Australian portrait prizes – the finalists also voted for their favourite artwork in the $10,000 Tony Fini Foundation Artist Prize. Mark Tweedie from Mt Lawley WA, was selected by his peers, with his portrait of close family friend Ken Bindle.

A portrait of Syd Kirkby MBE, an Australian surveyor and Antarctic explorer, by Queensland artist Tom Macbeth has won the 2016 Black Swan Prize for Portraiture Amana Living People’s Choice Award. Speaking about his subject, Macbeth stated, “Attempting to capture the character and wisdom of a man like Syd is both daunting and humbling. As I paint Syd I can’t help but imagine the shear determination and tenacity of a man in the 1950s exploring one of the most unforgiving environments on the planet by dog sled! I hope the portrait captures not only this tenacious character but also his wisdom coupled with his humble, soft, nature.”

A significant year, the Black Swan Prize for Portraiture is celebrating its 10th Anniversary, and for the first time partnering with AGWA as part of their Portrait Month. Rachel and the thirty-nine finalists artworks will be on display until 31 October 2016.

Black Swan Prize for Portraiture
8 – 31 October 2016
Art Gallery of Western Australia

Courtesy the artists and the Black Swan Prize.