2023 Winner: Bessie Nunes, 'Tales of Flame'
Congo artist Bessie Nunes won the 2023 River of Art Prize on Friday afternoon with a captivating 1.2 metre ceramic and mixed medium sculpture titled ‘Tales of Flame’
Topped by a life-like glossy black cockatoo perched on a plynth of native plants and seeds, the piece proved irresistible to judges Helen Maxwell and Andrew Gray and the 150 art lovers who had gathered for the launch.
Runner Up: David Walker, 'Seasons'
Runner-up was awarded to Guerilla Bay artist David Walker for ‘Seasons’, a piece of four jewellery pendants made from thermal and reclaimed plastics set within a steel frame and hung with a steel cord.
David is part of the Guerilla Bay Quartet, an Open Studio collaboration on the final day of the River of Art Trail, September 24.
Highly Commended: Indira Carmichael, "Daphne in the Laurel Leaves'
Highly Commended was awarded to Batehaven artist Indira Carmichael for her work ‘Daphne in the Laurel Leaves’, a mixed medium of pencil, ink and stitch on paper.
During the festival don’t miss Indira’s collaborative exhibition with Lee Honey, Familiar, which opens on September 16. Get in quick to be one of the lucky few to attend a drawing class on September 23.
Finalists:
In alphabetical order: Paul Bradley, Camelle Denny, Carleta Delac, Ann Espinosa, Anja Freya, Sophie Culic, Rachael Gibbons, Catriona Graham, Nicole Grimm-Hewitt, Rita Horta, Ruth Halverson, Sandra Hendy, Aline Joyce, Kareli Vine (two works), Deborah Ellis, Karen Warburton, Kiesha Davis, Bessie Nunes, Michelle Peterson, David Ramsland (two works), Robyn Vowles, Bernadette Trainor, David Walker, Serena Short, Gary Caldow, Geoffrey Odgers, Indira Carmichael, Indira Carmichael, Lizette Richards, Merran Toone, Rick Suthern.
![Anja Freyja, In Silvery Light of Moon [tripdytch], 91.5 x 30.5cm](https://www.riverofart.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Anja-Freyja_In-Silvery-Light-of-Moon_tripdytch-scaled.jpg){kind=link}
