West Australian artist Lori Pensini has taken out the $50,000 Kilgour Prize for her emotive depiction of family heritage and inter-racial relationships.
Pensini was proclaimed the winner in an online call between Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton.
Pensini painted a series of family portraits on heirloom fine bone china plates, titled Family 2021.
“A tribute to the inter-racial relationships of my colonial fore-bearers and the First Peoples of the southwest of Western Australia,” Pensini said.
“These portraits are a continuum for myself and my art practice exploring the Indigenous lineage to my ancestry.
“Each plate is unique to itself, honouring individual endeavours and fortitude. Collectively they embody the sense of family, of intimate bonds forged and the endurance of fervent relationships that defied racial vilification of the times.”
Pensini has been a perennial Kilgour Prize finalist for five years and was the People’s Choice winner in 2018.
Morton said the judges were impressed by the exploration of the Australian identity and the weight and substance of Pensini’s innovative work.
“There is a tension presented through this work. The portraits are haunting, but also mesmerising,” Morton said.
“It is not a divisive narrative, but one that embraces the individual stories behind this family portrait.”
The Kilgour Prize exhibition was meant to open on August 13, but the Newcastle Art Gallery was forced to move the exhibition and winner announcement online due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“While we are disappointed not to be able to share this news with Lori in person, we felt it was more important to pass on our congratulations without any further delay,” Lord Mayor Nelmes said.
“The arts community has been hit hard by the effects of COVID-19, making this award and its $50,000 prize even more valuable at this time.”
The Kilgour Prize is administered by Newcastle Art Gallery and funded by artist Jack Noel Kilgour.
While Newcastle Art Gallery remains closed, the Kilgour Prize 2021 exhibition can be viewed here.
The People’s Choice Award voting is now open and can be cast online until 5pm on October 6, 2021.
The winner will be announced on October 11, 2021, and awarded $5000.
Information source: Media release, City of Newcastle