Catherine O’Donnell wins major award of $35,000

The 2022 Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award was announced at an event at the Grafton Regional Gallery on Saturday September 17.

This year’s prize was judged by Ms Suzanne Cotter, Director at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney. The prize was awarded to NSW artist Catherine O’Donnell for her work ‘Glenbrook Window#1’.  O’Donnell said ‘Drawing is close to my heart and at the core of my art practice and to be awarded an art award that celebrates Australian contemporary drawing at the highest level like the JADA Award is humbling.  I would like to sincerely thank the Judge Susan Cotter, Director Dr Niomi Sands, Grafton Regional Gallery and the Friends of Grafton Gallery for this honour’. The 2022 JADA received 637 entries from 502 artists throughout Australia with 56 finalists being selected for the exhibition and subsequent tour.

An early career award was presented to Brisbane artist Jessica Northdurft for her work ‘Thylacine Sighting’.  Three additional artists were commended and highly commended by the judge for their submissions.

HIGHLY COMMENDED:

Flux, Alun Rhys Jones

Lives and works on Gumbaynggirr Country, Bellingen, NSW

COMMENDED

Lagoon and Dancing Trees, Ileigh Hellier

Lives and works on Awabakal Land, Merewether NSW

Fear And Fury, Locust Jones

Lives and works on Dharug and Gundungurra Lands, Katoomba, NSW

Celebrating the diversity of contemporary drawing and opening the exhibition will remain open at the Grafton Regional Gallery until December 11 before touring regional NSW and Queensland. 2023 Touring venues include: Manning Regional Art Gallery; Tamworth Regional Gallery; Redcliffe Art Gallery; Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery; Nulla Nulla Macleay Regional Gallery and Gympie Regional Gallery.

Full JADA results available on the CV Independent website.