St Kilda artist wins Deakin Art Gallery Contemporary Small Sculpture Award

Deakin Vice-Chancellor Professor Jane den Hollander presented Mr Stringer with the $10,000 acquisitive prize at the official opening of the Contemporary Small Sculpture Exhibition at the Deakin University Art Gallery in Burwood last night.

Selected from an exceptional field of 232 entries from around the world, House on Fire captivated the judges with its commanding sculptural presence. 

Deakin Art Collection and Galleries Manager and judging panel member, Leanne Willis, congratulated Mr Stringer on his achievement. 

“House on Fire possesses a commanding sculptural presence and was a clear standout among the 40 finalists,” Ms Willis said. 

“The judges were unanimous in their praise for Mr Stringer’s sophisticated use of new material and technology, all of which rest upon an aesthetically rich clash of associations."

Now in its ninth year, entries in the annual Deakin University Contemporary Small Sculpture Award are limited to 70 centimetres in size. The accompanying Contemporary Small Sculpture Exhibition features the 40 shortlisted works and is open at the Deakin University Art Gallery until Friday 14 July. 

The finalists and winner were selected by the judging panel including sculptor Ewen Coates, Former Principal Research Fellow and Head of the School of Creative Arts at The University of Melbourne Associate Professor Ken Wach, and Deakin’s Ms Willis. 

Contemporary Small Sculpture exhibition at Deakin University Art Gallery 
Dates: 7 June – 14 July
Location: Deakin University Art Gallery, Building FA, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood. 
Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 10am – 4pm. By appointment on Monday for groups over 10.
Cost: Free entry 

About the Artist

Richard Stringer is a Melbourne-based artist who has held 12 solo exhibitions in Australia as well as participating in exhibitions across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. He has taken up residencies in Italy, New Zealand, Burkina Faso and most recently at the Berlin Milchof Studio’s in Berlin. His public sculptures include the iconic ‘Queen Bee’ at Eureka Tower in Melbourne and ‘Monument for a public building’ at the St Kilda Town Hall. Mr Stringer is a current PhD candidate at Monash University and a senior assistant with the University of Queensland archaeological team in Cyprus.