Brisbane Portrait Prize winners revealed

A Redlands artist has won this year’s Brisbane Portrait Prize with a powerful artwork dubbed, “Still Thriving”.

Dylan Mooney has won the Brisbane Portrait Prize with this piece, Still Thriving, featuring himself and Sam Ramsey.

A Redlands artist has won this year’s Brisbane Portrait Prize with a powerful artwork.

Dylan Mooney, 27, was announced the winner of the Lord Mayor’s Prize of $50,000 during last night’s awards ceremony.

Mooney’s winning piece, titled Still Thriving, depicts Mooney and his friend, Sam Ramsey, embracing.

Chief judge and director of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia Suzanne Cotter said it was a ‘beautiful and very empowered work.”

Huon Kane won Emerging Artist prize with this work titled Smoko.

“Dylan’s Yuwi (Mackay) and Torres Strait Islander (Meriam Nation) background are central to this work,” she says.

“The flesh colours and the colours of the Wattle flowers used are the ochres of the Yuwi region, materials that connect the artist and the subjects to country, to community and to culture.”

Ms Cotter was impressed by the emotions evoked by the powerful piece.

Fiona Lowry won the Sylvia Jones Award for Women Artists with this work Before the crossroads (Vin age 11).

Hayden Pressley won the Next Gen prize with his artwork Paul Croker: A Timeless Devotee

“The painting speaks of personal experience and the power of love,” she says.

“Their embrace is very intimate. And while it fills you with warmth, it also speaks of a determination which is an affirmation of presence, identity, and self-representation.

“We are moved by that sense of human dignity and strength, and our right to be who we are, and to be seen.”

The long-running competition highlights the city and it’s character with all artists having a connection to Brisbane.

Elizabeth Reed won the Emerging Artist with her work title Omnicron.

Liam Nunan won the Packers Prize with this work titled Self Portrait.

The entries reflected this, says Brisbane Portrait Prize Director Anna Reynolds, who was impressed by the variety with pieces ranging from powerful to quirky.

Other artists who took home the night’s biggest prizes were Liam Nunan (Packers Prize), Fiona Lowry (Sylvia Jones Prize for Women Artists), Robert Mercer (Digital Award), Zoe Porter (Performing Arts and Music Award), Guy Lobwein (Metro Arts Experimental Artists Awards) and Huon Kane and Elizabeth Reed (Emerging Artists Award).

Zoe Porter won the Performing Arts and Music Awards with this work titled Billie the Acrobat.

Robert Mercer won the Digital Award with this artwork, Self-portrait.

Guy Lobwein won Experimental Artist with this work, Down to the River, into the Street which is a self-portrait.