fifty squared art prize
2022 winners

Brunswick Street Gallery is proud to announce the winners of the 2022 Fifty Squared Art Prize.

Featuring hundreds of artworks measuring no greater than 50x50cm, the Fifty Squared Art Prize brings together artists of diverse practices from all over Australia and beyond.

Brunswick Street Gallery would like to thank our esteemed guest judge Sebastian Henry-Jones, Associate Curator of West Space and Curatorial Assistant at the Biennale of Sydney for his assistance in the selection of our First and Second Prize winners.

We would also like to thank Chapman & Bailey, Hound & Bone Studio and Derivan for their selections, support and generous sponsorship of this national art prize.

Finally, an enormous congratulations to all of the artists who are exhibited as part of this year's Fifty Squared Art Prize – whose works transform our gallery each year, showcasing the breadth of talent and multiplicity of art practices, on show for all of the community to enjoy.

First Prize – $4000 cash prize (non-acquisitive)

summer daydream
khaled chamma

Brunswick Street Gallery is pleased to announce the First Prize winner as Khaled Chamma for their artwork Summer Daydream. 

Of this work, esteemed judge Sebastian Henry-Jones said in a statement:

‘I was immediately drawn to Khaled's intricate Summer Daydream. Apart from evidencing a clear amount of skill and technical ability, Khaled's work presents a unique vision that breaks from any dominant artistic tradition. The world that this drawing conjures is at once intimate in its detail and infinitely expansive in its psychedelic repetition. I can see Khaled’s well-honed technique taking many different forms and occupying a variety of spaces within the arts. This work demonstrates a strong visual practice, that with the momentum gained from receiving this prize, I would love to see evolve.’

– Sebastian Henry-Jones

Congratulations to Khaled Chamma, awarded the First Prize, as selected by Sebastian Henry-Jones, Associate Curator of West Space and Curatorial Assistant at the Biennale of Sydney.

The First Prize winner will receive a $4000 Cash Prize (non-acquisitive).

Image: Summer Daydream, Khaled Chamma, Coloured pencil on paper, 21x23cm.

second prize – $1000 cash prize (non-acquisitive)

Herbert After Cigarette in Suburban Street: 2:15am
alec hales

Brunswick Street Gallery is pleased to announce the Second Prize winner as Alec Hales for their artwork Herbert After Cigarette in Suburban Street: 2:15am. 

Of this work, esteemed judge Sebastian Henry-Jones said in a statement:

‘In an install full to the brim with high-intensity works, this painting by Alec stood out to me for its muted colours and thick, congested brushstrokes. The gritty materiality and craggy, qualities of Herbet… suggests the painting’s own kind of romantic provenance and a singular mythology, that gave me a sense of discovery upon seeing the work for the first time. These mysterious qualities, both in its subject matter and in the work’s physical character, amount to a fascinating and visceral portrait that I found myself returning to throughout the judging process.’

– Sebastian Henry-Jones

Congratulations to Alec Hales, awarded the Second Prize, as selected by Sebastian Henry-Jones, Associate Curator of West Space and Curatorial Assistant at the Biennale of Sydney.

The Second Prize winner will receive a $1000 Cash Prize (non-acquisitive).

Image: Herbert After Cigarette in Suburban Street: 2:15am, Alec Hales, oil on board, 40x30cm.

Brunswick Street Gallery Prize 

Resort
eleanor purseglove

Selected by our curatorial team, The Brunswick Street Gallery Prize is awarded to an artist whose entry is indicative of a practice that we are excited to support, awarding them with an exhibition with us in the upcoming 2023 exhibition schedule.

This year we have once again awarded the prize to two individuals, both of whom are at different stages in their creative practises yet have demonstrated a level of consistency across their entries that we are equally excited to see the work they will produce for their awarded exhibitions.

With this, Brunswick Street Gallery is pleased to present a Brunswick Street Gallery Prize to Eleanor Purseglove for their painting Resort.

Of this piece, Brunswick Street Gallery issued a joint statement:

‘Demonstrating a clear and considered handling of both colour and layering, Eleanor Purseglove is a painter who understands her medium, and whose consistent pictorial style and artful handling of translucent layers immediately caught the eye of our curatorial team with her captivating entry, ‘Resort’.’

Congratulations to Eleanor Purseglove, awarded a Brunswick Street Gallery Prize as selected by the Brunswick Street Gallery’s Director Sean Smith, Gallery Manager Jacqui Burnes, Gallery Coordinator Woody Mellor and Gallery Administrator Chloe Caday.

The Brunswick Street Gallery Prize winner will be awarded a $1500 contribution towards a solo exhibition at Brunswick Street Gallery in 2022/23.

Image: Resort, Eleanor Purseglove, oil on board, 50x40cm.

Brunswick Street Gallery Prize 

fruit, bread and dips
amber nuttall

Selected by our curatorial team, The Brunswick Street Gallery Prize is awarded to an artist whose entry is indicative of a practice that we are excited to support, awarding them with an exhibition with us in the upcoming 2023 exhibition schedule.

This year we have once again awarded the prize to two individuals, both of whom are at different stages in their creative practises yet have demonstrated a level of consistency across their entries that we are equally excited to see the work they will produce for their awarded exhibitions.

With this, Brunswick Street Gallery is pleased to present a Brunswick Street Gallery Prize to Amber Nuttall for their painting Fruit, Bread and Dips.

Of this piece, Brunswick Street Gallery issued a joint statement:

‘Amber Nuttal’s charming domestic scene–’Fruit, Bread and Dips’–is a textural and tonal melange that highlights a young painter with a sharp eye for composition. We were instantly captured by this piece upon unpacking, and our fondness grew the moment it was placed on the wall.’

Congratulations to Amber Nuttall, awarded a Brunswick Street Gallery Prize as selected by the Brunswick Street Gallery’s Director Sean Smith, Gallery Manager Jacqui Burnes, Gallery Coordinator Woody Mellor and Gallery Administrator Chloe Caday.

The Brunswick Street Gallery Prize winner will be awarded a $1500 contribution towards a solo exhibition at Brunswick Street Gallery in 2022/23.

Image: Fruit, Bread and Dips, Amber Nuttall, Oil and plaster on wood, 50x40cm.

painting Prize 

cool waters
Alexandra Plim

Brunswick Street Gallery is pleased to present the Painting Prize to Alexandra Plim for their painting Cool Waters.

Congratulations to Alexandra Plim, awarded the Painting Prize as selected by Mark Chapman of Chapman & Bailey.

The Painting Prize winner will be awarded a $400 voucher for services & art materials at Chapman & Bailey.

Image: Cool Waters, Alexandra Plim, acrylic on stretched canvas, 32x32cm.

Works on paper Prize

enlightened
lucy wood

Brunswick Street Gallery is pleased to present the Works on Paper Prize to Lucy Wood for their drawing Enlightened, as supported by the team at Hound & Bone Studios.

Congratulations to Lucy Wood, awarded the Works on Paper Prize as supported by Hound & Bone Studios.

The Works on Paper Prize winner will be awarded a Hound & Bone voucher for their fine art printing services.

Image: Enlightened, Lucy Wood, graphite on paper, 40x30cm.

people’s choice award

Mongshim Ramyun
Raffi Butler

Brunswick Street Gallery was pleased to allow our visitors to be the judge, extending the invitation to vote for their favourite artwork to win the People’s Choice Award!

The winner of the People’s Choice Award will receive an Artist’s Supplies pack from Derivan – a leading Australian company in the manufacturing of fine art materials.

Congratulations to Raffi Butler, awarded the People’s Choice Award as supported by Derivan.

Image: Mongshim Ramyun, Raffi Butler, oil on canvas, 38.5x38.5cm.

The 2022 Fifty Squared Art Prize is proudly supported by: