The annual VAS Contemporary Exhibition award for $5000 is sponsored by the George Hicks Foundation.
The late George Hicks was awarded Life Membership of the Victorian Artists Society in 1979 and was a major sponsor to the VAS Spring and Winter Exhibitions from 1968 to 1987. Mr Hicks' name appears on the VAS Honours Board.
In this exhibition artists are asked to explore subjects from a modern perspective, challenging themselves creatively. In general, ‘Contemporary’ refers to styles developed from the second half of the 20th Century up until today. It often deals with current social and cultural issues and exploits new media and subverts or reinvents tradition.
'The Hypnotist', oil on canvas by Brock Q Piper, Winner 2021
'Labyrinth' by Susan Sutton, Winner 2020
'Backyard View' by David Kaneen, Winner 2019
'Momoka', by Heather Towns, Winner 2018
'Watching the Water' by Erica Wagner, Winner 2017
'Fauna' by Ruskid (Oliver Reade), Winner 2016
2015: Meg Davoren-Honey
2014: Amanda Hyatt
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.