Bowness Photography Prize announces 60-strong finalist shortlist

24 August 2020

The MGA has announced 60 shortlisted finalists for the 15th edition of the William and Winifred Bowness Photography Prize.

Over the last 15 years, the Bowness Photography Prize has emerged as an important annual survey of contemporary photographic practice in Australia and one of the most prestigious prizes in the country.

Narelle Autio, Changeling 3 2020. Pigment ink-jet print 82.0 x 120.0 cm. courtesy of the artist, Michael Reid (Sydney) and Hugo Michell Gallery (Adelaide)

More than 1,000 entries were received in the competition, which will be judged by artist Fiona Hall, NGA Senior Curator of Photography Dr Shaune Lakin, and MGA Director Anouska Phizacklea.

In light of COVID-19 restrictions and the impact on the sector the MGA Foundation has made a number of alterations to the prize this year. This includes extending the exhibition period, which will now run from 31 October to 17 February 2021, with a commitment to ensuring a physical as well as a virtual exhibition.

Karla Dickens. Hard-hitting brother I 2019. From the series Ready, willing and able. Pigment ink-jet print 180.0 x 120.0 cm
courtesy of the artist and Andrew Baker Art Dealer (Brisbane) — Karla Dickens. Hard-hitting brother I 2019. From the series Ready, willing and able. Pigment ink-jet print 180.0 x 120.0 cm courtesy of the artist and Andrew Baker Art Dealer (Brisbane)

The announcement of the $30,000 winner, Smith & Singer People’s Choice Award recipient of $5,000, and the Colour Factory Honourable Mentions will be celebrated at a special event to be confirmed in January 2021.

Greg Semu. Red coats and Indians – battle cry 2019–20.
From the series Red coats and Indians: the games we play
pigment ink-jet print 90.0 x 146.0 cm
courtesy of the artist — Greg Semu. Red coats and Indians – battle cry 2019–20. From the series Red coats and Indians: the games we play pigment ink-jet print 90.0 x 146.0 cm courtesy of the artist

The 2020 finalists are:

Klari Agar, Belinda Allen, Sam Amar, Riste Andrievski, Emma Armstrong-Porter, Zoe Arnott, Robert Ashton, Narelle Autio, Reza Bagheri, Kate Baker, Charlie Barker, Chris Barry, Chris Bekos, Madeline Bishop, Tom Blachford, Paul Blackmore, Chris Bond and Drew Pettifer, Jesse Boyd-Reid, Jane Brown, Karen Burgess, Jane Burton, Danica Chappell, Ali Choudhry, Peta Clancy, Michael Cook, Nici Cumpston, Matteo Dal Vera and Michael Weatherill, Tamara Dean, Karla Dickens, Stephen Dupont, Louise Faulkner, Jacqueline Felstead, Anne Ferran, Ash Garwood, Amos Gebhardt, Tom Goldner, John Gollings, Philip Gostelow, Helen Grace, Lee Grant, Janina Green, Helen Grogan, Ponch Hawkes, Leila Jeffreys, Shea Kirk, Shivanjani Lal, Kelvin Lau, Honey Long and Prue Stent, Fiona MacDonald, Alister McKeich, Izabela Pluta, Greg Semu, Damien Shen, Slippage, Valerie Sparks, Cyrus Tang, Christian Thompson, Louise Whelan, Amanda Williams, and Anne Zahalka.

You can see all the finalist images at the Bowness Photography Prize website.

Michael Cook, Birthday 2020. From the series Livin’ the dream. Pigment ink-jet print 120.0 x 180.0 cm
courtesy the artist, THIS IS NO FANTASY (Melbourne) and Andrew Baker Art (Brisbane). — Michael Cook, Birthday 2020. From the series Livin’ the dream. Pigment ink-jet print 120.0 x 180.0 cm courtesy the artist, THIS IS NO FANTASY (Melbourne) and Andrew Baker Art (Brisbane).

Shea Kirk, Dylan Reilly (left and right view) 2020. From the series Vantages. Pigment ink-jet prints 65.0 x 53.0 cm (each)
courtesy of the artist — Shea Kirk, Dylan Reilly (left and right view) 2020. From the series Vantages. Pigment ink-jet prints 65.0 x 53.0 cm (each) courtesy of the artist

Honey Long and Prue Stent. Mineral growth 2019. From the series Touching pool. Pigment ink-jet print 72.0 x 108.0 cm
courtesy of the artists and ARC ONE Gallery (Melbourne) — Honey Long and Prue Stent. Mineral growth 2019. From the series Touching pool. Pigment ink-jet print 72.0 x 108.0 cm courtesy of the artists and ARC ONE Gallery (Melbourne)

SLIPPAGE. Madonna and piglet 2019. From the series Drunken swine. Pigment ink-jet print 150.0 x 100.0 cm, courtesy of the artists

Anne Zahalka. You are on Bondi Biddigal land! 2020. From the series You are here, pigment ink-jet print 115.0 x 190.0 cm
courtesy of the artist, ARC ONE Gallery (Melbourne) and Dominik Mersch Gallery (Sydney) — Anne Zahalka. You are on Bondi Biddigal land! 2020. From the series You are here, pigment ink-jet print 115.0 x 190.0 cm courtesy of the artist, ARC ONE Gallery (Melbourne) and Dominik Mersch Gallery (Sydney)