Galloway wins Glover Prize

The John Glover Acquisitive Prize celebrates the legacy of British painter John Glover and calls for entries in contemporary landscape painting that respond to the Tasmanian environment. With 640 entries from 12 countries, including entries from every state and territory in Australia, Tasmanian-based artist Sebastian Galloway was announced the winner of the Glover Prize 2021 with his work View of Mt Lyell through an Acid Raindrop.

The exhibition of finalists’ paintings is hanging at Falls Park Pavilion in Evansdale until 15 March. Viewers are encouraged to vote for their favourite artwork from the 42 finalist works in the selection of the People’s Choice Award and Hanger’s Choice Award, for $3,000 and $500 prize money respectively.

Galloway walks away with $50,000 in prize money and a bronze maquette of John Glover. His work, View of Mt Lyell through an Acid Raindrop responds to the century-long copper mining trade in Queenstown, Tasmania. Sulphur dioxide is created as a by-product of the copper smelting process, transforming into acid rain which twists and marks the landscape. The artist has said he is captivated by the strange, Mars-like beauty resulting from this chemical process.

After 17 years running and the largest pool of entries in the prize’s history this year, the Glover Prize remains an esteemed award for Australian landscape painting.

Image: Sebastian Galloway, View of Mt. Lyell through an Acid Raindrop. Oil on copper, Sassafras, 85 x 95cm. Courtesy: the artist.