Splash McClelland contemporary watercolour award 2018

To be held every three years, the Splash McClelland contemporary watercolour award was established in 2018 to showcase contemporary Australian watercolour practice. It is an acquisitive award enabled by the Fornari Bequest, by the Will of the late Lena May Fornari, and is a legacy of her support of the arts in Victoria. Lena May was an ardent collector of watercolours and the first acquisitions through this Bequest were significant watercolour paintings. Continuing this tradition, Splash presents the work of contemporary Australian artists who use this medium in highly accomplished and innovative ways:

Lee Bethel, Kate Beynon, Jacquie Blight, James Boissett, Mitchel Brannan, Leah Bullen, Chris Casali, Michelle Cawthorn, Carla Cescon, Glen Clarke, Greg Creek, Du Chonggang, Anne Edmonds, Belinda Fox, Rosi Griffin, David Hurwitz, Dee Jackson, GG Jolliffe, Sonja Karl, Dominika Keller, Waratah Lahy, Duncan Lannan, Tania Mason, Maxine Leigh McKee, Fiona McMonagle, Jennifer Mills, Claudia Nicholson, Hubert Pareroultja, John Pastoriza-Piñol, Jan Pittman, Rebeccah Power, Annette Raff, Annika Romeyn, Steve Salo, Sangeeta Sandrasegar, Andrew Seward, Nicola Smith, Tang Ying, Ebony Truscott, Michelle Ussher and Elke Varga.

Artist Jennifer Mills was awarded the $30,000 award for her work, In the echo chamber (WARNING NUEAO, Brendan 1976–78)2018, judged by Linda Michael, independent curator and editor.

Fiona McMonagle’s animated video work, The park at the end of my road, 2016, was selected for the $10,000 highly commended work, judged by Samantha Comte, Curator, The Ian Potter Museum of Art, the University of Melbourne.