Finalists revealed in Brisbane Portrait Prize
Finalists for this year’s Brisbane Portrait Prize have been revealed. The images capture everyone from Dame Quentin Bryce to former Olympians and champions of industry and you now have a chance to vote for your favourite to take out The Courier-Mail People’s Choice Award.
Lifestyle
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News.
She’s one of Australia’s most beloved personalities and Dame Quentin Bryce’s warmth shines through in Jade Ferguson’s entry for this year’s Brisbane Portrait Prize.
Finalists for the prize, now in its second year, are unveiled today and there are some beauties including portraits of former Olympian Mark Stockwell, coffee guru Dean Merlo, philanthropist Tim Fairfax, The Veronicas, Deena Lynch aka Spectator Jonze aka Jaguar Jonze, former Lord Mayor Sallyanne Atkinson and a host of others.
The judge for this year is Nick Mitzevich, director of the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra.
And you can now vote for your favourite in the Courier-Mail People’s Choice Award which will net some lucky artist $7500.
There is more than $90,000 up for grabs this year in numerous categories including the Lord Mayor’s Prize of $50,000.
There are 75 finalists this year, four of those in a new under 18s category.
Jade Ferguson’s photographic portrait of Dame Quentin Bryce in her garden, entitled Quentin at home, is in contention for the digital award and the main prize.
Ferguson’s entry features Dame Quentin, 77, seeking solace during the lockdown in the beauty of her garden, although the former governor of Queensland, Governor General of Australia and champion of women’s rights doesn’t claim to be an expert.
“I love gardening but I don’t have a green thumb,” Dame Quentin says.
“But I come from a family of serious and successful gardeners. Our garden here at home in Indooroopilly has lots of pots and I enjoy spending time in it enormously. We moved back from Canberra five years ago and I love the bright subtropical colours here.”
Dame Quentin has been painted and photographed many times and a stunning portrait of her by acclaimed Brisbane artist Michael Zavros is on display in the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.
Ferguson, 41, first met Dame Quentin supplying her with flowers when she was working in her family florist business.
‘”I knew she had a love of nature and flowers,” Ferguson says. “That drew me to the idea of her at home in her garden. I’m a great admirer of hers and she is so supportive of the arts and young women in particular. When we were shooting the photo I allowed her a moment to rest and do her own thing and then she looked up and I captured that moment.”
Ferguson is chuffed that out of her three entries this year, the portrait of Dame Quentin was the one that made the cut.
There were a massive 776 entries this year, a 15 per cent increase on last year.
Prize director Michelle Farquhar says pushing ahead with the prize despite the pandemic was the right decision.
“It has been a very tough year with artists having to improvise with technology sometimes rather than rely on the traditional live sittings due to COVID restrictions earlier in the year,” Ms Farquhar says.
“The board is delighted with the outstanding quality of finalists. There are some well-known Brisbane identities again this year alongside many who don‘t have a public profile. They all have important stories to tell.”
Winners of the Brisbane Portrait Prize will be announced on October 6 and the finalists exhibition will be at Brisbane Powerhouse from September 30 until November 1.
Voting in the Courier-Mail People’s Choice Award closes on October 27 which means voters will have a chance to see the works in the flesh as well as online. The People’s Choice winner will be announced on October 29.
Vote for your favourite portrait HERE