Virtual exhibition
July –
December 2020
The McClelland national small sculpture awards 2020 were an initiative of McClelland’s Director Lisa Byrne to support sculptors during the initial stages of the impact of COVID-19 on the Australian arts and culture sector. With the significant changes to the whole ecosystem of artistic support in Australia at this time, this initiative was designed to directly reach our key artistic community at McClelland – sculptors. We were truly amazed at the response by 320 sculptors, evidence of the huge need for income streams for the artistic community in our specialist field of sculpture.
The 44 finalists reflected a strong diversity of approaches to sculpture in the 21st Century. A variety of mediums, influences, career levels and conceptual interests were embodied in the finalist grouping. On behalf of the three Judges, Jason Smith, Director, Geelong Art Gallery, and McClelland Trustees and Artists Lisa Roet and John Young AM, our congratulations to the finalists, and notably the four 2020 awardees, Kerrie Poliness, Cyrus Tang, Matt Hinkley and James Geurts.
Shortlisted artists were: Fiona Abicare, Daniel Agdag, Claire Bridge, Robert Bridgewater, Eugene Carchesio, Aaron Carter, Kris Coad, Ewen Coates, Narinda Cook, Augustine Dall’Ava, Emma Davies, Michael Doolan, Brodie Ellis, Danny Fotopoulos, James Geurts, Matt Hinkley, Odette Ireland, Freya Jobbins, Yvonne Kendall, Madeline Kidd, Alicia King, Michael Le Grand, Lucas Maddock, John Meade, Sanné Mestrom, Clare Milledge, Clive Murray-White, Nell, Louise Paramor, Sassy Park, Mary Lou Pavlovic, Kenny Pittock, Kerrie Poliness, Steven Rendall, Juan David Rodriguez Sandoval, Paul Selwood, Ema Shin, Matthew Sleeth, Vipoo Srivilasa, Kylie Stillman, Cyrus Tang, Ronnie van Hout, Jan van Schaik, and Narelle White.