small works art prize

2024 winners

'UNTITLED' (RUPTURE>>DAS KAPITAL)
DAMIEN MELCHIORI

Brunswick Street Gallery is pleased to announce the First Prize winner as Damien Melchiori for their artwork 'Untitled' (Rupture>>Das Kapital). 

Of this work, esteemed judge Jake Treacy said in a statement:

‘At times, we have one shot, a timely shot. Damien’s artwork articulately punctures a ready-made with exact precision to poetically and potently comment upon labour and class. Utilising a publication of Marx’s Capital, he employs a 12-gauge shot gun to pierce the text as a mode of destruction towards new ways of seeing, to reiterate new worlds from ruins. The gesture is fired towards the reader, creating a void that disrupts status quo. This artwork challenges the dominate powers of how ‘history’ is recorded, archived, and learned. It is a timely work, considering a Westernised world at the state of collapse.’

– Jake Treacy

Congratulations to Damien Melchiori, awarded the First Prize.

The First Prize winner will receive a $4000 Cash Prize (non-acquisitive).

Image: 'Untitled' (Rupture>>Das Kapital), Damien Melchiori, Found object - book, hole made by 12-gauge shotgun, 20x15x15cm.

THE MOON OF SEOUL
JOOYUN LIM

Brunswick Street Gallery is pleased to announce the Second Prize winner as Jooyun Lim for their artwork The Moon of Seoul. 

Of this work, esteemed guest judge Jake Treacy said in a statement:

'The moon is forever in cycles, waxing and waning, reflecting light from afar whilst concealing a hidden story. Jooyun’s artwork poetically considers the moon as a transient body, paired with that of a migrant artist. Drawing upon her South Korean heritage, her artwork references the history of the Moon Jar as a vessel to carry home, considering past and present, hope and calmness, memory and longing. She masterfully employs slip clay, bubbled with craterous textures, and carved with a city-like grid, to invoke light in its jade-coloured glazes whilst honouring introspection in its shadowy enclaves. This work carries, and seeps, lustrous stories of place and identity.'

– Jake Treacy

Congratulations to Jooyun Lim, awarded the Second Prize.

The Second Prize winner will receive a $1000 Cash Prize (non-acquisitive).

Image: The Moon of Seoul, Jooyun Lim, slipcasting, 15.5x15.5x19.5cm.

EBB TIDE, RHYLL
LISA BANKS

Selected by our curatorial team, The BSG Prize is awarded to an artist whose entry is indicative of a practice that we are excited to support, awarding them with an exhibition with us in the upcoming 2024 exhibition schedule.

This year we have awarded the prize to an individual that has demonstrated a fresh approach to their medium that plays with traditional painting techniques, with a contrasting moody and rich palette that makes this piece stand out amongst the hang. We are excited to see the work they will produce for their awarded exhibition.

With this, Brunswick Street Gallery is pleased to present a BSG Prize to Lisa Banks for their piece Ebb Tide, Rhyll.

Of this piece, Brunswick Street Gallery issued a joint statement:

‘We were immediately captured by Lisa Banks' landscapes on show in this year's prize, though it was her piece Ebb Tide, Rhyll that stood out to us most amongst the curation. With a rich, tonal palette, the landscape feels abundant, and the stark silhouettes of the trees speak to the unique colours that come out at last light.’

Congratulations to Lisa Banks, awarded a BSG Prize as selected by the Brunswick Street Gallery’s Director Sean Smith, Gallery Manager Jacqui Burnes, and Exhibitions Manager Alex Ramsdale.

The BSG Prize winner will be awarded a $1650 contribution toward a solo exhibition at Brunswick Street Gallery in 2024.

Image: Ebb Tide, Rhyll, Lisa Banks, oil on wood, 27x22cm.

THE INVERT
KERRIE O'KEEFE

SUPPORTED BY FRAME OF MIND

Brunswick Street Gallery is pleased to present the Wall Prize to Kerrie O'Keefe for their piece The Invert, as supported by the team at Frame of Mind Framing.

Of this work, Frame of Mind's Directors said in a statement:

'What initially stood out to us about Kerrie's painting was the refined palette and nod to surrealism. We enjoyed the mood of the painting through light and shadow and the effective brush strokes in the foliage. Overall the painting left us with a sense of ambivalent but curious interpretation and the dream-like softness of it. We look forward to framing some of Kerrie's work!' 

Congratulations to Kerrie O'Keefe, awarded the Wall Prize as selected by Frame of Mind Framing.

The Wall Prize winner will be awarded a Frame of Mind voucher for their fine art framing services.

Image: The Invert, Kerrie O'Keefe, oil on linen, 24x30cm.

ABSTRACT THREAD PAINTING NO. 1
CATRIONA MCLEAN

SUPPORTED BY CRAFT VICTORIA

Brunswick Street Gallery is pleased to present the Object Prize to Catriona McLean for their piece Abstract Thread Painting No. 1, as supported by the team at Craft Victoria.

Of this work, Craft Victoria's Eliza Tiernan said in a statement:

'We are pleased to award Catriona McLean the Object Prize. We were drawn to Catriona's work for its non-traditional approach to embroidery, and her use of this craft to create a captivatingly textured, abstract artwork.'

Congratulations to Catriona McLean, awarded the Object Prize as selected by Craft Victoria.

The Object Prize winner will be awarded a Makers Membership for Craft Victoria, including an Artist Profile.

Image: Abstract Thread Painting No. 1, Catriona McLean, Cotton embroidery on Linen, 14x14cm.

A TRIPTYCH IN FOUR PARTS
FRANCIS JAYE JOHNSON

SUPPORTED BY ART SHED

Brunswick Street Gallery was pleased to allow our visitors to be the judge, extending the invitation to vote for their favourite artwork to win the People’s Choice Award!

The winner of the People’s Choice Award will receive a $200 voucher for Artist’s Supplies pack from Art Shed – a leading Australian supplier of fine art materials.

Image: A Triptych in Four Parts, Francis Jaye Johnson, Lino print hand coloured on paper, 35x35cm framed.

RELIC DEPICTING AN EARTHLING GRAPPLING WITH BINARY CONSCIOUSNESS
DYLAN DODDS

Brunswick Street Gallery is pleased to present an Honourable Mention to Dylan Dodds for their piece Relic Depicting An Earthling Grappling With Binary Consciousness.

We were captivated by Dylan's sculptural work, whose delicate and contemplative faces seem to follow you around the room. Each head seems to have its own charming persona, and touches on the multifaceted nature of one’s identity, and the dichotomies that can exist within one person.

The team at BSG is excited by the many possibilities of Dylan's expansive practice, and look forward to working with them to showcase more of their work.

Congratulations to Dylan Dodds, awarded an Honourable Mention as selected by BSG.

Artists awarded the Honourable Mention are awarded an exhibition in our Ground Floor Gallery space in 2024, along with mentorship from BSG for their exhibition and associated practice.

Image: Relic Depicting An Earthling Grappling With Binary Consciousness, Dylan Dodds, reclaimed clay, feldspar, fire clay, slips, oxides, glaze, glass offcuts, granite stones from the artist's parents garden, fired in oxidation, 23x18x10cm.

VIGNETTE
GRETA ERMACORA

Brunswick Street Gallery is pleased to present an Honourable Mention to Greta Ermacora for their piece Vignette.

Upon receiving this work, we were immediately impressed by Greta's creative approach to its composition. Two interlocking paintings depict different moments in time, laid upon one another as if we were sifting through a personal collection. The way in which these scenes are laid upon each other hints at the present obscuring the past, or of the shedding of past selves as we grow up.

Artists awarded the Honourable Mention are awarded an exhibition in our Ground Floor Gallery space in 2024, along with mentorship from BSG for their exhibition and associated practice.

Image: Vignette, Greta Ermacora, Oil on wood panel, 22.8x19cm.