About the art prize
Now in its seventh year, the $35,000 Country Energy Art Prize for Landscape Painting showcases the wealth of artistic talent across country and coastal New South Wales while contributing to the visual arts industry.
It is Australia’s richest annual landscape art prize, attracting entries from previous Archibald and Blake Prize winners to first time entrants.
2009 winner announced
Graham Lupp of Bathurst has won Countryscapes 2009 for his work Hen and Chicken Lane.
Graham’s work was selected from a record 49 finalist’s works by leading art market analyst and critic, Michael Reid, at the Lismore Regional Gallery – host of the 2009 exhibition.
Michael said Hen and Chicken Lane showed “confidence and an obvious technical quality”.
“The competition came down to three very strong works but what made Graham’s piece stand out was the trees – they took on a sinewist, abstract texture, in what is otherwise a traditional landscape,” Michael said.
Graham was also a finalist in the Country Energy Art Prize in 2007 and 2008.
Youth Encouragement Award
The winner of the Countryscapes 2009 $5,000 Youth Encouragement Award is Erin Nalder of Moree for her artwork Many Faces of Moree's Landscape.
Highly Commended finalists
The following artists were highly commended finalists:
- Clare Hopkins of Bangalow for her artwork Seventeen
- Hanna Kay of Blandford for her artwork Watercourse
- Anthony Leitch of Rosebank for his artwork Lennox Plateau
- Jan Rae of Byron Bay for her artwork Little Wategos
- Robyn Sweaney of Mullumbimby for her artwork Heading Home - Coorabell
Employees’ Choice Award
Lynne Wallis from Byron Bay collected the Country Energy Employees' Choice Award for her work Light dancing below the Headland. Around 1,100 employees voted in the competition this year – the most votes in the history of the Employees' Choice Award. Around 12 per cent of this year’s voters chose Lynne's painting.
Key dates to remember
- Finalist exhibition – Lismore Regional Gallery: 5 November 2009 to 12 December 2009.
- Countryscapes Sydney exhibition - Chifley Tower, Sydney: 7 to 28 February 2010.
- Launch of 2010 Art Prize - Glasshouse Gallery, Port Macquarie: 11 February 2010.
View previous winners profiles
View 2009 finalists' artworks
View 2008 finalists
View 2007 finalists
View 2006 finalists
