Local artists take centre stage in 2025 Art Awards

Anna was among 15 talented artists recognised in the 2025 Community Art Awards, sharing in a total prize pool of $19,900.

There were 135 entries to this year’s awards, which included 88 paintings, 21 works on paper, 13 photo, film and digital pieces and 13 sculptures.

This year’s judging panel included:

• Emma Bitmead, Curator of Historical Art at the Art Gallery of Western Australia
• Paul Uhlman, Associate Professor and Coordinator of Visual Arts and Printmaking at Edith Cowan University
• Di Cubitt, Sessional Academic and Fine Art Unit Coordinator at Curtin University.

Sandra Murray, Artistic Director and Lead Curator for Sculpture and Bathers, was the Guest Curator for this Community Art Awards exhibition.

Mayor Linda Aitken said this year’s Art Awards once again highlighted the depth of creativity and talent within our community.

“We’re proud to host this exhibition each year, celebrating local talent and providing emerging artists the opportunity to showcase their skills and storytelling methods,” she said.

“Each piece tells a story and collectively, the exhibition reflects the diversity, imagination and passion of our community.”

Visit the exhibition on until Saturday 26 July 2025 at the Wanneroo Regional Gallery, open Wednesdays to Saturdays, 10am to 4pm.

Visitors can take part in the judging of the People's Choice Award by nominating their favourite artwork, with the winner to be announced by mid-August.

 

PRIZES

City of Wanneroo Open Award (acquisitive)

Artist: Anna Speirs

Title: Moonlight solitude

Medium: oil on wood panel

Judges’ comments: This is a quiet, reflective work. The medium of oil paint has been lovingly applied with subtle gradations of light. Contemplative, this work draws you in to the space and beyond. A moment of stillness and solitude in a busy world. The window, as a devise in art history, is often used as a bridge between two worlds. In this instance the judges sensed the two worlds between the transition between childhood, adolescence into adulthood and this idea of indiscernible transitions.

 

Best City of Wanneroo Resident

Artist: Jeremy Blank

Title: Trail Walk to Yanchep

Medium: iPad drawing, digital print on archival cotton rag

Judges’ comments: Skilful use of iPad drawing creates layered composition relating to movement through the local landscape. The use of digital medium creates a fluid, embodied composition. Drawing on digital media to create this image, it has the sense of the haptic tradition of mark marking.

 

Highly Commended City of Wanneroo Resident

Artist: Veta Holmes

Title: Urban view

Medium: Linoprint on paper

Judges’ comments: This work appears to come from the graphic novel tradition where the landscape itself holds the drama of the narrative. This is the scene where it’s about to happen. An imminent moment, it has an emotional power. Technically proficient use of lino to create a dramatic scene and compelling image.

 

Painting Winner

Artist: Lucy Oosterhoff

Title: The Binge

Medium: Mixed media

Judges’ comments: All kinds of everyday objects, such as a fork or a glass, appear in a state of transformation. One has the feeling that the sitter is undergoing an emotional metamorphosis or change. The use of the light is powerful and skilfully executed. Lucy shows a growing understanding of the painting language, and the judges were highly impressed by her understanding of materials and composition.

 

Painting Highly Commended

Artist: Charlotte Robinson

Title: Ely

Medium: Acrylic on canvas

Judges’ comments: Distorted image shifts our point of view pushing the composition towards abstraction. Part of what is interesting is the distortion of the face and the emotional interplay extending and becoming part of the external environment. The direct handling of the media, incorporating charcoal over acrylic, adds to the expressive qualities.

 

Sculpture Winner

Artist: Angela Delury

Title: Toby

Medium: Mixed media

Judges’ comments: The clever use of recycled materials manifests in a whimsical cross between robot and toy. Drawing on a cinematic tradition of robots, the corner shop and nostalgia for a not-quite-realised past.

 

Sculpture Highly Commended

Artist: Laural Holyoak

Title: Angler Fish

Medium: Earthenware clay, underglaze, gold lustre

Judges’ comments: Bioluminescence is the key factor to the success of this predator fish. Skilful use of medium and glazing has been used to create a compelling yet repelling form.

 

Works on Paper Winner

Artist: Amy Marshall

Title: The joy of just watching you sleep

Medium: Pencil, charcoal and water-soluble graphite on paper

Judges’ comments: Sensitive work. The text reinforces a love of the child by the mother. Here we have a storied landscape of love and great tenderness.

 

Works on Paper Highly Commended

Artist: Linda Fardoe

Title: Looking up

Medium: Graphite pencil on Camson paper

Judges’ comments: The artist writes the landscape with this work. The erasure of lines creates a living, pulsating environment.

 

Photo, Film and Digital Media Winner

Artist: Clinton Price

Title: Facing the day

Medium: Film photography

Judges’ comments: The artist captures a fleeting moment of a fellow passenger on the daily commute, finding transcendence in the everyday.

 

Photo, Film and Digital Media Highly Commended

Artist: Audra de Pina

Title: Be still

Medium: Photography print on fine art lustre paper

Judges’ comments: Range of subtle tones and image of mist, air and deep reflection.

 

Youth Winner

Artist: Isabella Pitt

Title: Me 3 years ago

Medium: Oil on board

Judges’ comments: This painting reveals the turbulence of adolescence the close up topography of the artists face. The combination of brush strokes and tonal shift of paint weave together an interesting surface.

 

Youth Highly Commended

Artist: Allyda Nithasha

Title: Severed

Medium: Drawing

Judges’ comments: Biro drawing appears to describe the emotional state and inner conflict of the sitter to create a compelling image.

 

Celebrating Wanneroo Winner

Artist: Ernie Feldmann

Title: Dry Creek Bed, Pilbara

Medium: Watercolour

Judges’ comments: Lyrical sunrise in the Pilbara with lively gums and patterned earth depicts nature in a state of agitated flux.

 

Celebrating Wanneroo Highly Commended

Artist: Jaqueline Glaser

Title: The Visitor

Medium: Acrylic

Judges’ comments: Lived experience and memory blend with this honest sense of direct observation which verges on naïve visual poetry.