Gosford Regional Gallery has announced the winner of this year’s EMERGING art prize, with $5,000 in prize money awarded to Monica Rani Rudhar from Sydney.
This year, six finalists were selected from 42 applications by artists aged 18-30 from across NSW with a section of Gallery given over to each artist to display a body of work.
The $5,000 was presented by judge Tahlia Linz, Curator at Artspace Sydney, who congratulated the artist on her “resolved presentation and evocative concept” and “looked forward to following her promising career ahead”.
Rudhar’s work explores her connection to her Indian heritage through the presentation of super-sized gold earrings, reflecting her family’s practice as goldsmiths.
The Biennial EMERGING Art Prize was established by Gosford Regional Gallery Director, Tim Braham in 2003.
“The exhibition of finalists’ works provides great exposure for the selected artists who are all on their way to an exciting future in the arts,” Braham said.
“The diversity of experiences that these young artists explore, and their exciting use of materials makes this an exhibition everyone will appreciate.”
The winning work, along with artwork by the other 2023 finalists Remy Faint, Alexandra Jonscher, Lihnida Krstansoka-Blazeska, NC Qin and James Rhodes will be on exhibition until March 26 at the Gosford Regional Gallery from 9.30am-4pm daily, with entry free.
Source: Media release, Feb 6, 2023, Central Coast Council