
Martin Kantor Portrait Prize 2021 Gallery
Named in honour of the late portrait photographer Martin Kantor, the acquisitive first prize of $15,000 is awarded to an exceptional portrait of a significant Australian recognised within their field of art, letters, science, sport or politics. This exhibition presents the 28 award finalists.
Martin Kantor was a photographer and philanthropist known for his arresting portraits of famous musicians and artists including Iggy Pop, Howard Arkley, Adam Cullen, Dale Frank and Mark Seymour. Kantor founded Brightspace Gallery, St Kilda. This award is proudly supported by the Dara Foundation.
Judges
- Naomi Cass, Director Castlemaine Art Museum
- Max Delany, Artistic Director Australian Centre for Contemporary Art
- Bill Henson, Photographic Artist
- Fiona Sweet, Artistic Director Ballarat International Foto Biennale
Award Winners
Judges awarded the Martin Kantor Portrait Prize 2021 to Mia Mala McDonald for her portrait of AFLW footballer, Darcy Vescio, with an acquisitive first prize of $15,000. The judges said, “High production values and staging of popular traditions of commercial portrait photography, but with a subtle and uncanny directorial mode, and framing which bestows character to the subject, reflecting a new generation of sporting and cultural and sporting achievement… Surrounded by gold and glitter here is a relaxed young woman comfortable in her body, humble even, looking away from the viewer. Here is someone so accomplished she is happy to strike a new pose for a new way of thinking about women in high-profile sport.”
Honourable mentions were given to:
John Gollings, Self Portrait, 2020
Suzanne Phoenix, Amy Taylor, 2019
Rudi Williams, Yanni Florence and Louise Fairweather in front of Louise’s butterfly collection, 2021
The People’s Choice Award winner is John Gollings, Self Portrait, 2020


John Gollings – PEOPLE’S CHOICE
Self Portrait, 2020
Featuring John Gollings

George Angelovski
(un)titled, 2013-2021
Featuring Benjamin Hancock

Graeme Armstrong
Polymath, Tim Bonyhady, 2021
Featuring Tim Bonyhady

Fiona Bowring
Roxley Foley, Gumbaynggirr man, 2020
Featuring Roxley Foley

Su Cassiano
Ruby Wharton, Resisting Terrorism since 1788, 2019
Featuring Ruby Wharton

Anna Maria Antoinette D’Addario
Bruce Pascoe, 2020
Featuring Bruce Pascoe

Elise Derwin
Lindy Lee, 2020
Featuring Lindy Lee

Stephen Dupont
Tim Page – Ghost from the Past, 2014
Featuring Tim Page

George Fetting
Kate Mulvany – Resolute, 2021
Featuring Kate Mulvany

George Fetting
CATO #3, 2019
Featuring Sue Cato AM

Julia Firak
Sophia, 2020
Featuring Sophia Davidson Gluyas

Lisa Gipton
Pat Brassington, 2014
Featuring Pat Brassington

Naomi Hobson
A Warrior without a Weapon 1, 2018
Featuring Puchaanu Creek

Nicholas Hubicki
Six Persimmons, 2021
Featuring Benjamin Armstrong

Penelope Hunt
A Stitch in Time, 2020
Featuring Terry Williams

Tammy Law
Tireless Advocate, 2021
Featuring Benjamin Law

Kellie Leczinska
Hon Linda Burney, ‘Spirit Country’, 2019
Featuring Linda Burney

Stuart Miller
Study for AOAULI, 2020
Featuring Léuli Eshragh

Suzanne Phoenix
Amy Taylor, 2019
Featuring Amy Taylor

Eugenia Raskopoulos
Astro, 2013
Featuring Astro’s Ashes On Eugenia Raskopoulos

Eva Schroeder
Angus & Brownie, 2020
Featuring Angus Trumble

Russell Shakespeare
The Artist John Olsen, 2015
Featuring John Olsen

Laki Sideris
Gretel Taylor, 2020
Featuring Gretel Taylor

Sanjeev Singh
Beachin’ in Isolation with Dolly, 2020
Featuring Dolly Diamond

Tobias Titz
Leonard French, 2012
Featuring Leonard French

Linda Wachtel
Lady Anna Cowen, 2019
Featuring Lady Cowen
