The Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize, Australia’s pre-eminent national award for small sculpture presented by Woollahra Council, today announced 46 finalists for the 2016 Prize, selected from 614 entries.

Selected by the 2016 guest judges – CEO and Group Fairs Director of Art Fairs Australia Barry Keldoulis, Senior Curator at Macquarie University Art Gallery Rhonda Davis and Ambassador for the visual arts and cultural icon, Wendy Whiteley OAM – the finalist works showed innovation and diversity in their take on an original, freestanding sculpture measuring up to 80cm in any dimension.

The judges said: “The 2016 prize entries included a wide range of materials both new and traditional, adapted to contemporary aesthetics and interests.”

This year’s finalists include well-known artists such as Del Kathryn Barton, Louis Pratt, Rodney Pople, Craig Waddell and Joan Ross who will be exhibited alongside emerging artists.  Works spanned a range of materials including stone, ceramic, paper, thread, wire, metal, resin and electronic detritus. The works address political, social, personal and playful themes and showed a high standard.