Lifelike bird art takes flight: Holmes Prize returns to Sunshine Coast with $20,000 prize
The Holmes Prize for Excellence in Realistic Australian Bird Art—Australia’s only realistic bird art competition and exhibition—is back on the Sunshine Coast.
“See it! Believe it!” is an invitation to visitors to witness remarkable artistic skill, precision and passion that challenge the boundary between art and reality.
Established in 2015, the exhibition brings together 40 of Australia’s best bird artists, some of whom are Sunshine Coast artists, capturing the beauty of Australia’s birdlife.
The artworks on exhibition showcase the dedication, patience and extraordinary powers of observation required to create realistic bird art. It offers artists an opportunity to demonstrate their skill and creativity, while inviting visitors to discover Australia's birdlife through fresh eyes.
From the finest feather and the glint in a bird’s eye to the graceful movement of flight, each artwork reveals an exceptional level of observation and technical mastery. The results are so lifelike that visitors may find themselves looking twice asking, “How can this be a painting?”
Exhibiting artists are competing for the newly increased $20,000 Best in Show Award, accompanied by six Awards of Excellence ($1500), recognising outstanding achievement in this highly specialised art form.
Judging this impressive collection is Philip Farley, an award-winning, Brisbane-born fine artist and illustrator. With more than 35 years of experience creating finely detailed portrayals of Australian birds and rural life, Farley brings a wealth of artistic knowledge and expertise to the challenging task of selecting the winning works.
Whether an art enthusiast, bird lover or simply curious, visitors can expect an exhibition that inspires wonder, challenges perception and celebrates the natural world in extraordinary detail.
Look closely. Discover the extraordinary. See it! Believe it!
The Holmes Art Prize is sponsored annually by Sunshine Coast dermatologist, Dr Gary Holmes and Dr Margaret Holmes.
The exhibition is open seven days a week, from Friday 23 October to Friday 20 November:
Sunshine Coast Art and Framing Gallery
Nicklin Way, Minyama Q 4551
Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The exhibition venue is a family-friendly environment.
• Follow the Holmes Art Prize on Facebook (search ‘Holmes Art Prize’) for view the 40 artworks.
