Fremantle artist wins $100,000 Banksia Art Prize, Queensland's richest art prize

The prize is funded by Brisbane couple Jake Phillpot, CEO of HR software firm Tanda, and Zuzanna Kamusinski, and was conceived as an alternative to existing national art prizes. The winner was selected from a field of 1500 entries, which were whittled down to 25 by a group of “ordinary Australians” via an online poll, then judged by a panel of six people from art, business and media who were not told the artists' identities.

Phillpot said the Banksia Prize was a response to awards “that favour works and artists that fit a particular social or political narrative”. He said Australian public discourse was very introspective and self-critical, and while there was a place for that, “it can’t be only that”. He added: “There also needs to be a place to celebrate what we have, to set the vision for the future of the country, and to enjoy what it means to be Australian, because I don’t think there’s any other country in the world that anyone would reasonably prefer to live in.”

According to entry rules, works are assessed on composition, craftsmanship, technical skill “and a compelling sense of Australian pride: expressed with sincerity, authenticity and emotional impact”. Entries ranged from household names and Archibald Prize finalists to emerging artists and amateurs.

Art critic and historian Sasha Grishin, an Emeritus Professor of the Australian National University, questioned the idea of a perfectly blind judging system, calling it “a bit of a furphy”. Grishin said he was for full disclosure because anyone professional in the art world recognises quickly who is who. He also said the sincerity of someone's national pride was difficult to gauge from an artwork without knowing the context, adding: “I would trust the panel of judges to be able to pick a good picture, but questions of sincerity and promoting Australian national values, I think that may be a bridge too far.”

The judging panel consisted of artist Michael Zavros, interior designer Anna Spiro, art dealer Bruce Heiser, former Queensland senator Brett Mason, ABC Radio presenter Kat Feeney, and business leader and Broncos chairman Karl Morris.

Swainston is a zoologist and artist known for paintings of marine and terrestrial ecosystems. He spent a week at the Daintree site creating a precise 1.2m x 1.8m drawing before producing his acrylic on canvas painting in the studio.

The Banksia Prize is now the richest art prize for a single work in Queensland, ahead of the $75,000 Lord Mayor’s Prize in the Brisbane Portrait Prize, and equal second-richest nationally, alongside four other prizes valued at $100,000. The most lucrative prize is Victoria’s $125,000 Sorrento Art Prize, also funded by a private donor.

The painting and other finalists are on display at the Brisbane Powerhouse until November 29, and visitors can vote on a $10,000 People’s Choice Award.