Mid West Art Prize 2023: Winners announced at sold-out exhibition opening at Geraldton Regional Art Gallery

Local artists emerged triumphant, sharing in more than $25,000, when they took out all the categories in the prestigious 2023 Mid West Art Prize.

The winners were announced at the biennial event’s sold-out opening night at Geraldton Regional Art Gallery on Saturday.

Contemporary artists from across the State had their submitted new pieces short-listed, but Mid West artists claimed all the honours on the night.

Sukura Furukawa won $20,000, taking out the City of Greater Geraldton overall award for excellence. Taileah Isaacs took home $3500 for the Yamaji Art Aboriginal arts award, while Mark Ditcham was awarded $1000 for the Bowman-Bright Mid West artist award.

Willow Mcauliffe clinched the Latitude Jewellers youth award and the $500 prize.

The opening night took over both floors of the gallery, spilling out into GRAG Park where the crowd enjoyed live music, street food, an outdoor bar and had the chance to appreciate two new murals adorning the outside walls of the gallery, finished last week by Fremantle artist Imogen Palmer.

City Mayor Jerry Clune congratulated the winners and those who made the event possible.

“Mid West Art Prize never fails to impress, and this year’s event was particularly special as all the winners from the Mid West, and we formally presented GRAG’s new large-scale mural Kingfisher’s Flight by Fremantle artist Imogen Palmer to the community,” he said.

The entries were subject to two rounds of judging.

“I encourage everyone to head down to GRAG to experience this fantastic exhibition and cast a vote for the People’s Choice Award,” Mr Clune said.

“Whilst you are there, don’t forget to check out the extraordinary new mural that now adorns the back of the gallery.”

The Mid West Art Prize exhibition, as well as voting for the people’s choice award, remains open until Sunday, February 4.