Image: Mary Tonkin, Solo, Kalorama April 2020 (2020), oil on linen, 53 x 56 cm
Congratulations to Mary Tonkin for being selected as a finalist in the Paddington Art Prize 2020 for her stunning work Solo, Kalorama April 2020.
The Paddington Art Prize is a $30,000 National acquisitive prize, awarded annually for a painting inspired by the Australian landscape. Established in 2004 by Arts Patron, Marlene Antico OAM, this National prize takes its place among the country’s most lucrative and highly coveted painting prizes.
The prize encourages the interpretation of the landscape as a significant contemporary genre, its long tradition in Australian painting as a key contributor to our national ethos, and is a positive initiative in private patronage of the arts in Australia.
Marlene Antico OAM, created the Prize in order to assist with the monetary difficulties that often impede artists from showcasing their works. As an art student, gallery owner and volunteer guide at the AGNSW for over 10 years, she has underscored her commitment to supporting contemporary Australian artists, aware, of the financial concerns that prevent many artists from devoting themselves entirely to their art practice.
The Paddington Art Prize aims to discover new talents and invigorate the art market with iconic styles that reflect the topography and spirit of Australia.
This year the exhibition will judged by Ross Laurie, visual artist and past Winner of the Paddington Art Prize; Rhonda Davis, Senior Curator at the Macquarie University Art Gallery; and Jeanette Siebols, visual artist and Senior Lecturer in Visual Arts at the Australian Catholic University.
The exhibition will run from 29 October – 8 November 2020.
To view this years finalists click here.
About the work
Painted in particularly pellucid Autumn light amongst ferns and tree ferns on the lee side of a dam wall during the first Covid-19 induced lockdown in Melbourne. Made during the Easter break, prior to home schooling, when working alone in the presence of this glorious bush was a fairly standard delight.
About the artist
Landscape painter Mary Tonkin completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) in 1995 and a Master of Fine Arts in 2002 at Monash University, where she has also lectured. Tonkin has held solo exhibitions in Melbourne and Sydney since 1999. Her work has been included in group exhibitions at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery and internationally in New York. A survey exhibition titled ‘Home’ was held at Burrinja Gallery in the Dandenong’s in 2012. Tonkin was awarded the National Gallery of Victoria Trustee award in 1994 and 1995 and Dobell drawing prize in 2002. She was the recipient of the Elizabeth Greenshield foundation grant in 1998 and Australian post-graduate fellowship award in 2000. Tonkin’s work is held by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney; the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne; the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, VIC and several regional and tertiary institutions.
To view available paintings by Mary Tonkin, visit the stockroom website.