GARY SMITH / GEELONG CONTEMPORARY ART PRIZE

Channel Marker #1_2012_Pigment and acrylic on canvas_120 x 90cm

Congratulations to Gary Smith, who is a finalist in the 2012 Geelong Contemporary Art Prize -  which opens to the public on Saturday 15 September at Geelong Gallery. The Geelong Contemporary Art Prize is a nationally-significant award that showcases the best of contemporary Australian painting practice.

Gary Smith grew up in the industrial town of Geelong where he developed an early fascination with the flare from the oil refinery chimney and the local industrial landscape, influences which are strongly apparent in his latest body of work.

This $30,000 acquisitive award and biennial exhibition will feature 45 works by artists including Emily Ferretti, Sally Gabori, Tony Lloyd, Dane Lovett, Clinton Nain,  Christopher Pease and Gary Smith.

The selection panel for the 2012 Geelong Contemporary Art Prize includes Geoffrey Edwards (Director, Geelong Gallery) and Lisa Sullivan (Curator, Geelong Gallery) along with guest judge, Susan McCulloch OAM (art writer, publisher and curator).

The recipient of the 2012 Geelong Contemporary Art Prize will be announced on the evening of Friday 14 September and the exhibition of shortlisted works will be on display at Geelong Gallery from Saturday 15 September to Sunday 18 November.