'Snowgum', by Julian Bruere, Winner 2018
'Northern You Yangs', by Ray Hewitt, Winner 2017
'Silver Sunrise' by Ben Winspear, Winner 2016
The Mavis Little Artist of the Year (AOTY) Award Exhibition showcases the year’s best artistic talent in painting and sculpture. Artists are selected based on participation in at least two of that year’s Select Exhibitions by the votes of their peers.
The Victorian Artists Society holds three Select Exhibitions throughout the year; the Autumn, Winter and Spring Exhibitions. All exhibiting artists in these three exhibitions and artist members are invited to cast votes for their four favourite artists. These votes are used to decide the list of candidates for the Mavis Little Artist of the Year Award exhibition. The VAS Mavis Little AOTY is awarded to the artist gaining the most votes for the select exhibitions including the Mavis Little AOTY exhibition at the opening night award ceremony.
This award is unique as it is not awarded by a committee or judge, but by the peers of the winning artist and demands sustained performance over the exhibiting year. Invited artists may submit up to three works into the final exhibition.
Four prizes are given for the Mavis Little AOTY Award Exhibition:
Mavis Little Artist of the Year, sponsored by the Hansen Little Foundation: $10,000 prize and a solo exhibition in the Cato gallery for 1 week.
Members’ Choice Award, sponsored by Design Framing to the value of $800 is awarded to the artist gaining the most votes from non-exhibiting members throughout the year.
Exhibitors’ Choice Award, sponsored by Noel Waite AO is a $500 prize awarded to the artist gaining the most votes from the exhibiting members who are exhibiting in the Mavis Little Artist of the Year exhibition.
VAS Sculpture of the Year Award is awarded to the Sculpture artist gaining the most votes for the select exhibitions including the Mavis Little AOTY exhibition at the opening night award ceremony.
'Bringing in the Catch', oil by Jennifer Fyfe, Winner 2019
'Snowgum', by Julian Bruere, Winner 2018
'Northern You Yangs', by Ray Hewitt, Winner 2017
'Silver Sunrise' by Ben Winspear, Winner 2016
2015: Jennifer Fyfe
2014: Ray Hewitt FVAS
2013: Julian Bruere
2012: Mary Hyde
2011: Clive Sinclair
2010: Julian Bruere
2009: Amanda Hyatt
2008: Betina Fauvel Ogden
2007: Ted Dansey
2006: Mary Hyde
2005: Otto Boron
2004: Betina Fauvel Ogden
2003: Ray Hewitt
2002: Christine Wrest-Smith
2001: Paul McDonald Smith
2000: Ray Hewitt
1999: John Hunt
1998: Otto Boron
1997: Helene Seymour
1996: Ron Reynolds
1995: No Award
1994: Gregory R Smith
1993: Nathan Paramanathan
1992: Margaret Cowling
1991: AW Harding
1990: Margaret Cowling
1989: David Taylor
1988: Barbara McManus
1987: Greg Allen
1986: Robert Wade
1985: Robert Wade
1984: Maxwell Wilks
1983: Rodney Symmons
1982: Maxwell Wilks
1981: Raja Idris
1980: David Taylor
1979: Karlis Mednis
1978: Tom Bamber
1977: Beryl Anderson
1976: David Taylor
1975: Max Sherlock
1975: LS Pendelbury
1974: Max Sherlock
1973: Robert T Miller
This is awarded to the artist who receives the most votes from members and their peers.
2019: Julian Bruere
2018: Joe Whyte
2017: Adrian Johnson
2016: Ted Dansey
2015: Ted Dansey
2014: Gregory R Smith
2013: Mary Hyde
2012: Julian Bruere
2011: Geoff Watson
This award was founded by former VAS Honorary Treasurer Mr Gordon Moffatt. It was presented to the artist who received the highest number of votes during the course of the Artist of the Year Award Exhibition. In 2015 it was renamed the Noel Waite AO Award.
2019: Ron Reynolds
2018: Jennifer Fyfe
2017: Raelene Sharp
2016: Des Parkin
2015: Jane Jones
2014: Gwendoline Krumins
2013: Jo Reitze
2012: John Hunt
2011: Ted Dansey
2010: Mary Hyde
2009: Mary Hyde
2007: Stewart Milner
2019: Ellen Jenkins
2018: Ellen Jenkins
2017: Judith Leman
2016: Judith Leman
2015: Mike Ebdon
2014: Mike Ebdon
2013: Nell Frysteen
2013: Otto Boron
2012: Jane Jones
We would like to pay our respects to the traditional owners of the land on which our building stands, their leaders, past, present and emerging.