Portraits of loved ones and seascapes were among the winning artworks of Randwick City’s 2024 Women’s Art Prize.

The competition and exhibition, held every year in honour of International Women’s Day, saw 137 entries in the running for almost $6,000 worth of prizes.

Winners in the Youth, Local, Open, Councillor’s Choice categories were announced on Saturday 2 March at Randwick Community Centre on Munda Street, where all the artworks are currently being exhibited.

Randwick Council Mayor Philipa Veitch said: “It’s fantastic to see so many talented women artists in our community. All the artworks were of very high quality, making it a very difficult decision for our judges.

“Thank you to all the girls and women who submitted their artwork, and huge congratulations to our winners.”

Maroubra resident Kate Mulheron took out the Local category this year with Waiting, a dramatic oil painting of a seascape and cloudscape from home. “The painting is about waiting and those moments of reflection that we have,” Kate said. “The water and the atmosphere give us those experiences of comfort, but also take us somewhere else.

“When I'm painting seascapes and cloud scapes, I hope that they're kind of universal experiences for people; that they’re recognisable, but also could be anywhere.”

While the Women’s Art Prize celebrates female artists who live, work, or study in Randwick City, an Open category was introduced last year to also recognise women outside the LGA who have a connection to the area.

Volunteer committee member and public officer at Randwick Art Society, Ann Cahill, took out the Open category this year with her black and white painting Tony, a portrait of her brother that she created for his 70^th birthday.

It is the second time in a row that the Bondi local has taken out the Open category. Ann won the same prize in 2023 for her serene painting of a group of swimmers in a local rock pool.

“I typically paint figures in water because I live near the beach, and I like to paint coastal scenes,” Ann said. “But this year, I thought I’d submit something completely different.

“Tony was a last-minute entry. I was quite shocked when I won.”

All artworks are now on display at Randwick Community Centre until Saturday 9 March. 

The top 50 artworks will then be exhibited at the Lionel Bowen Library Gallery from Tuesday 12 March 2024 to Sunday 21 April 2024.

Winners of the 2024 Women’s Art Prize

Youth category
1st ($1,250)
Portrait of Peace by Kaja Sophia Damodaran (pictured below)

Youth category
2nd ($500)
I See Me. Do You? By Lucille Giraud (artwork pictured below)

Local category
1st ($1500)
Waiting by Kate Mulheron (pictured below)

Local category
2nd ($500)
Sunset Dreams by Jasmin Yip (pictured below)

Open category
1st ($1000)
Tony by Ann Cahill  (artwork pictured below)

Open category
2nd ($500)
Paper Daisies by Julie Mathews (pictured below)

Councillors’ Choice category
1st ($300)
Scenes of 3 short digital animations by Jacqui North.

2nd ($150)
My Colourful Mum by Ruby Levitt.

People’s Choice category
1^st ($200)
Abuela Bisa by Elizabeth Ortega (pictured below)