Central Coast Council is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s Gosford Art Prize, with $58,000 awarded to artists from the Central Coast and beyond.
The Prize was judged by artist Stephanie nova Milne and curator Gina Mobayed. This year 1,082 artworks were entered from all states of Australia, with 152 selected as finalists for exhibition.
Sydney-based artist Diana Baker Smith was awarded the major prize, receiving both the prestigious title and $25,000 for her artwork ‘This Place Where They Dwell.’. The winning four-channel moving image artwork considers the politics and poetics of domestic space and was filmed inside the former home of modernist artist Margo Lewers.
Award judge, Gina Mobayed said “‘This Place Where They Dwell’ is an exquisite portrait of Margot Lewers, told with care and depth. It brings colour, rhythm and shape to a woman’s legacy and offers many ways to connect past, present and potentials”.
Director of Gosford Regional Gallery, Tim Braham said the annual art prize is an opportunity for both local and national artists to bring quality contemporary art to the Central Coast.
“It was a fierce competition amongst the artworks for exhibition selection,” Mr Braham said.
“I want to congratulate Dianna Baker Smith as the major winner and extend my congratulations to the other winners and to all the artists who entered from across Australia.
“The Gosford Art Prize has evolved from its humble beginning in the ‘70s and is now recognised as a significant achievement for Australian artists.”
Central Coast Council Mayor, Lawrie McKinna said the Gosford Art Prize attracts some of the best artists from around Australia to the Central Coast.
“The competition offers an exciting range of opportunities for visual artists to showcase their work to a large audience and potentially become an acquisition of the Central Coast’s art collection,” Mayor McKinna said.
“Central Coast Council is proud to see the Gosford Art Prize connect, inspire and showcase talent from across the country. The prize money and recognition will make a real difference to each artist’s career.”
Gosford Art Prize 2025 winners:
• Gosford Art Prize $25,000: Diana Baker Smith – This Place Where They Dwell
• Aboriginal Artist Prize $10,000: Dean Cross – 4th August
• Moving Image Art Prize $10,000: Jake Starr – A Weak & Panicked Animal
• Gosford Ceramic Prize $10,000: Julie Pennington – Wrap
• Highly Commended (two prizes) $1,000 each: Beverly Smith – In the Bush on Country, and Nick Collerson – Livingstone Road
The ‘Viewer’s Choice Award’ will be announced at the end of the exhibition period.
The 2025 finalist exhibition will be on display from 6 September to 9 November 2025 at the Gosford Regional Gallery, 9.30am–4pm daily. Entry is free.
For more information, search ‘Gosford Art Prize’ at gosfordregionalgallery.com