Semi Finalists – 2022 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize

Portraits of Deborah Cheetham AO alongside Hugh Jackman with Deborra-Lee Furness AO and Adam Goodes are amongst the 2022 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize Semi-Finalists

We are excited to announce 214 semi-finalists in the 2022 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize (DMNPP), Australia’s richest portrait prize.  Portraits of Australians, both well known and unknown, are among the semi-finalists’ artworks depicting actors, activists, politicians, artists, doctors, sports stars and many self portraits, in a selection from almost every corner of the country.

Both emerging and renowned Australian artists feature in the list of semi-finalists announced today (see below).  The semi-finalists are in the running for a $150,000 first prize and will be whittled down to 30 finalists announced on November 3 ahead of the final judging and announcement on November 30.

The semi-finalists were selected from a field that saw a large increase in entries over the previous year, returning the interest in the Prize to pre-COVID levels and ensuring a robust field of incredible skill and competition according to the judges.

The 2022 Prize is judged by Gerard Vaughan AM, Australian art historian and museum administrator, Lucy Culliton, one of Australia’s foremost contemporary artists and Peter Moran, Moran Arts Foundation.  Peter’s parents Doug and Greta Moran AO established the Moran Arts Foundation in 1988 to fulfil their dream of helping Australian artists along the path to excellence.

Judge Gerard Vaughan AM commented

“It has been a pleasure and privilege to participate in the judging of the Moran Prize. I have been impressed by the sheer quality of works submitted, and the variety of ways in which so many artists have explored – and extended – the idea of what a portrait could be, what it tells us about both the sitter and the painter, and the personal and social contexts which each painter explores. Our years of confronting the pandemic are one theme. I have also been very struck by the interesting self portraits submitted, and by the high number of portraits of an artist’s painter friends. In fact, this fascinating body of work represents not only each painter’s ‘reflection’ of another human being, so often emotional, deeply personal and heartfelt, but also the ideas, interests and tastes which define a moment in time – right now, here in Australia.”

Doug Moran National Portrait Prize judges original artworks from Australian artists, capturing Australians from all walks of life, whether a public figure or someone from the artist’s circle of experience. Works are painted at least partly from life with the sitter known to the artist and aware of the artist’s intention to enter the Prize.

Read more about the Prize here 

Dates

• Finalists will be notified on 3 Nov 2022
• Winner announced: 30 Nov 2022

Prize

The winner of the 2022 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize will receive $150,000

Judges

• Gerard Vaughan AM, Australian art historian and museum administrator
• Lucy Culliton, one of Australia’s foremost contemporary artists
• Peter Moran, Moran Arts Foundation

Media Enquiries

Please contact Carolyn Grant, Avviso PR

List of 2022 Semi-Finalists