Alan Jones wins 2015 Mosman Art Prize

After a tight race Alan Jones has been announced as the winner of the 2015 Mosman Art Prize.

Selected out of a large finalist pool, Jones’ work Painting 131 (North Coogee) stood out from the 104 works in its exploration of identity and human connections with the history of landscape.

The work was inspired by the artist’s recent move to Coogee, Sydney.

2015 Mosman Art Prize Coordinator and Senior Curator, Katrina Cashman expanded on Jones’ work, “Jones has long been interested in Australia’s Aboriginal and post-colonial histories but draws on his own personal and family histories in this artwork to examine notions of identity.”

This year’s judge Michael Rolfe, Executive Officer, Museum’s & Galleries NSW, commented on the Jones’ striking winning work, stating “his work has always interested me for its discordant approach to colour, shapes and texture used. But more than that I find his painting quite distinctive and representative of a way of seeing that gives me confidence in this picture making.”

Now the 68^th winner of the Mosman Prize, Jones’ work will be included in the collection of the longest running, continuous municipal art prize in New South Wales.

Rolfe commented on the selection process in regards to the history of the collection, “Painting 131 (North Coogee) will prove to be a strong addition to the Mosman Collection. Jones has been quoted as saying ‘some paintings can happen in half an hour’, but obviously that’s not always the case. For me judging usually takes a while, but not in this instance. I knew I had found the winner as soon as I saw the work.”

Jones took home the major prize of $30,000, however the Mosman Art Prize, awarded three other artists on the night. Andrew Tompkins was awarded the Commendation Prize of $5,000, Kevin McKay was awarded the Allan Gamble Memorial Art Prize of $3,000, whilst Natasha Walsh won $2,000 in the Emerging Artists’ Prize (Under 35 years) for her work Aeon’s breath.

The winners and finalists are on display at the Mosman Art Gallery, and you can meet the artists Sunday, 16 August 3-4pm.

EXHIBITION
Mosman Art Prize 2015
25 July – 30 August 2015

Image 1: Alan Jones – Painting 131 (North Coogee), 2015
Image 2: Left to Right: Andrew Tomkins, Alan Jones. Natasha Walsh, Kevin McKay
Courtesy the artist and Mosman Art Gallery