Kilgour Prize 2020 People’s Choice awarded

Joshua McPherson has won the KILGOUR PRIZE 2020 People’s Choice Award for the second year running with a painting titled Portrait of Meg.

This year McPherson won – from a total pool of more than 1,600 votes collected since the KILGOUR PRIZE 2020 exhibition opened Saturday 1 August. McPherson has won $5,000 in recognition of the popularity of his work.

“When Meg arrived for the first session I was inspired by her youthful slightly "edgy, grunge" look contrasted with her beautiful Indian jewellery passed down from her mother,” artist Joshua McPherson said.

“I sought to capture a young woman of today but still respectful of her family tradition and heritage."

Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton said McPherson excels in portraiture that provokes an emotive response in his viewers.

“McPherson’s skill as a painter is captured in the beautiful composition and vulnerable expression of his sitter,” she said.

McPherson has exhibited internationally in Italy, London and the United States. He has also been selected as a finalist in other national portrait prizes such as the Archibald Prize and the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize.

The Sydney-based artist will receive $5,000, generously funded by the bequest of artist Jack Noel Kilgour. The KILGOUR PRIZE 2020 exhibition will remain on display at the Gallery until 15 November 2020.

Anonymous comments collected during the voting process included:

“Of all the works, Portrait of Meg moves me the most. There is a simple complexity, a depth of emotion, a subtlety of light and shade, a beautifully softened sharpness. And those haunting eyes...they draw you in even as they withdraw into their own earnest, private contemplation.”

“It’s very evocative and insightful representation of the complexity of youth culture.”

“The subject is very relatable and reminds me of myself and every other teenage girl struggling with identity and self-awareness.”

“Culturally-diverse, beautifully composed, reflecting the promise and uncertainty of youth.”

Artist statement, Joshua McPherson:

I first met Meg when she modelled for my weekly portrait class. My students and I immediately found her to be a breath of fresh air. Such a great attitude to life at a time when she was experiencing significant change and complexities in her life. I knew immediately I would like to have her pose privately for a portrait.

When Meg arrived for the first session I was inspired by her youthful slightly "edgy, grunge" look contrasted with her beautiful Indian jewellery passed down from her mother. I found the juxtaposition between her attire quite fascinating and intriguing.

I sought to capture a young woman of today but still respectful of her family tradition and heritage. This was Meg’s first time posing in a private studio and I feel that the portrait captures her initial slight coyness but a willingness to embrace herself in the portrait painting process.

KILGOUR PRIZE 2020 FINALISTS

An Sheng, Andrew Bennett, Anh Nguyen, Ben Ryan, Brittany Jones, Bronni Krieger, Corinna Howell, Craig Handley, Dagmar Cyrulla, Daniel Butterworth, Elizabeth Austin, Erik Krebs-Schade, Esther Erlich, Greg Creek, Jacqueline Hennessy, Jordan Richardson, Joshua McPherson, Kenneth Lambert, Kerry McInnis, Kylie Melinda Smith, Lileana Colarelli, Lori Pensini, Lynn Savery, Melissa Ritchie, Michael Bell, Oliver Shepherd, Peter Gardiner, Tony Costa, Tracy Dods, Wendy Sharpe.