2024 Start Art Prize Winners

Congratulations to all the Start artists for entering the 2024 Start Art Prize. Here is the list of winners selected by South Australian feature artist Alice Lindstrom, and announced by Tansy Curtin, Curator of International Art pre-1980.

Artists 3-5 Years

Zoe, 3-5 years, Zoe's Summer collage, I have grass, sand, water, ducks and fish in my collage - Zoe age 3

Congratulations Zoe

The bold use of colour is really striking and the abstract approach to space with broad blocks of colour is enlivening and dramatic. The collage evokes the feeling of a warm summer.

Abigail, 3-5 years, The Rainbow, In this picture I added grass, trees, a flower Philemon Pig, birds, clouds and the sun in the sky but my favourite was the rainbow.

Congratulations Abigail

I love the celebratory nature of this artwork and the way the rainbow encompasses the whole picture. It's so joyful.

Ella, 3-5 years, Octopus is in the deep blue sea. The deep sea is dark but there are marine lives could glow magically. It is just like galaxy in the universe. Ella imagine the octopus had 10 legs with rainbow glow colour That make the dark sea magically beautiful, Ella is 5 years old girl who is really enjoy paining and marin animals. with her imagination she combine the glowing jelly fish with octopus

Merit Award

Congratulations Ella

This is a wonderful painting! I love the way you have captured the way the octopus glows in the dark ocean and likened it to a galaxy. It is a beautifully atmospheric and magical piece of work.

Artists 6-8 Years

Madeline, 6-8 years, Title - Flowers in a Vase, This art piece is made from lots of different medias with a paper vase painted with ink, and painted background and flowers.

Congratulations Madeline

Congratulations! This is an absolutely incredible painting! It is reminiscent of Matisse. I love the patterned vase, the turquoise background, the glimpse of the tree in the window behind the flowers. I love looking at this painting.

Richard, 6-8 years, Night Scenery of Xi’an Bell Tower., The Bell Tower in my mum’s home city Xi'an is super cool at night. It shows how awesome Xi'an is!

Congratulations Richard

The tower against the inky blue sky seems to glow and appears lit up at night. You have captured the mystery of the building against the dark sky. The composition is really bold and I love the luminous effect you have achieved with your painting.

Eunice, 6-8 years, 【Let’s Dancing】Acrylic paints, Love dancing, love painting.

Merit Award

Congratulations Eunice

I love the textured background you have created. The layered brushstrokes and the dots give it such life and movement. This artwork expresses the joy of dancing and twirling around and being lost in movement.

Artists Years 9-10

Mehrad, 9-10 years, Autumn, Our backyard tree

Congratulations Mehrad

This is an incredible collage. It really brings to mind a clear Autumn day when all the leaves have turned orange and red and the trees look alight with colour.

yoyo, 9-10 years, Ngadlu Yatala, Yatala Parnkangka（No polution，more recycle）, A vibrant collage urging us to reduce ocean pollution and recycle more, created by a talented fifth-grade girl.

Congratulations Yoyo

This is such an inventive and arresting collage. The combination of textures is really striking and the anthropomorphic forms are intriguing. It brings to mind a cyclical process of transformation which is echoed in the title.

Yo-Yi, 9-10 years, Snowy Winter, The wind blows, the rain showers, the snow falls. A warm little cottage just what we need in this weather.

Merit Award

Congratulations Yo-yi

This landscape is really expertly done. I love the movement of the wind rolling in, the snow covered ground, the bare trees and lone farmhouse. It's very evocative and incredible you have created the whole scene with collage.

Artists 11-12 Years

Mia, 11-12 years, 【Pink Sky】Acrylic Prints, A boring day until the pink sky cheered me up.

Congratulations Mia

This painting evokes a beautiful evening, as the sun sets and the sky is lit up by the sunset. It is atmospheric and mysterious. I love the splatter of white which evokes the first stars appearing.

Leon, 11-12 years, 【My World】Drawing on paper., I like playing the game, so I created my own world.

Congratulations Leon

The composition you have created here is truly remarkable. I love the exaggerated landscape and the way you have delineated the shapes to echo the video game. The colours are vibrant and arresting. It's really amazing.

Ella, 11-12 years, An Evergreen Bouquet, Inspired by Alice I used multiple mediums; canvas, paper and painted paper. I also used different techniques including hand-drawn flowers, layering and painting.

Merit Award

Congratulations Ella

I absolutely love this collage. It is really striking - I love the combination of colours and textures you have used and the way that the flowers contrast with the background. There is close attention to detail and the composition is calming and joyful to look at.