A Vibrant Comeback:
The 2025 Boyup Brook Art Awards Shine in Town Hall
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After a four-year hiatus, the 2025 Boyup Brook Art Awards made a highly anticipated return to the Boyup Brook Town Hall, delighting artists, locals and visitors alike.
Held as a fringe event of the Boyup Brook Country Music Muster from February 13-16, the exhibition showcased 186 pieces from 65 artists, with nearly 10% of the works sold. Over 500 visitors enjoyed a diverse array of high-quality artworks, with categories including Works on Canvas, Works on Paper, Mixed Media, Textiles, and Sculptures.
Competition judge Bev Bagby had the difficult task of selecting winners across the various categories, as well as the Young Artist Award, the Indigenous Award, and the prestigious overall winner of the Talison Lithium Open Prize.
During the judging process, Bev was provided with a numbered list of artworks within their respective categories, alongside details on the mediums and titles of the pieces. On Opening Night, she shared her criteria for selecting the winners, admitting that the challenge was so absorbing she even dreamt about the pieces at night.
In the end, the Talison Lithium Open Prize went to Kellee Merritt from Pelican Point for her stunning work on paper, Bejeweled.
Boyup Brook artists made a notable impression, with Janet Winter earning first place in the Works on Paper category and a highly commended award. Glen and Phil Osterlund’s impressive 3D sculptures took home first and second place in the Sculptures category. The Young Artist Award went to Taylor Barnes for her striking Work on Canvas.
Bev was relieved of the responsibility of choosing two other awards: the People’s Choice Award (voted on by visitors) and the Packer’s Prize (voted on by the team who helped set up the exhibition). Both of these awards were won by Gemma Mangano from Dardanup for her touching portrait paintings of her children.
This year marked the first time a Perth depot was introduced to assist metro-based artists in submitting their works, alongside the return of the Bunbury depot. A total of 17 artists took advantage of this opportunity.
Additionally, the exhibition made use of art rails on the artboards, lessening the need to drill when hanging pieces.
The most significant highlight of the exhibition however, was that the return of the event to the Town Hall after the cancellation of the event due to COVID-19 for two years, followed by the unavailability for an additional two years. This allowed more artists to enter more pieces with less restrictions, and it brought the five categories back with an open theme.
The Boyup Brook Community Resource Centre (CRC) extends a heartfelt thanks to the dedicated team of twenty volunteers, for their hard work and commitment in helping put this event together seamlessly.
The CRC also expresses gratitude to the generous sponsors and supporters of the 2025 event, including Talison Lithium, Boree Park Stud, Boyup Brook Co-op, Boyup Brook IGA, Boyup Brook Agricultural Supplies, Blackwood Valley Agencies, P&J Broockmann, Hampton Partners, Shire of Boyup Brook, Jacksons Drawing Supplies Bunbury, Watercolour Society of WA, Beulah Wines, Country Music Club of Boyup Brook, Oxlades Art Supplies and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
Held as a fringe event of the Boyup Brook Country Music Muster from February 13-16, the exhibition showcased 186 pieces from 65 artists, with nearly 10% of the works sold. Over 500 visitors enjoyed a diverse array of high-quality artworks, with categories including Works on Canvas, Works on Paper, Mixed Media, Textiles, and Sculptures.
Competition judge Bev Bagby had the difficult task of selecting winners across the various categories, as well as the Young Artist Award, the Indigenous Award, and the prestigious overall winner of the Talison Lithium Open Prize.
During the judging process, Bev was provided with a numbered list of artworks within their respective categories, alongside details on the mediums and titles of the pieces. On Opening Night, she shared her criteria for selecting the winners, admitting that the challenge was so absorbing she even dreamt about the pieces at night.
In the end, the Talison Lithium Open Prize went to Kellee Merritt from Pelican Point for her stunning work on paper, Bejeweled.
Boyup Brook artists made a notable impression, with Janet Winter earning first place in the Works on Paper category and a highly commended award. Glen and Phil Osterlund’s impressive 3D sculptures took home first and second place in the Sculptures category. The Young Artist Award went to Taylor Barnes for her striking Work on Canvas.
Bev was relieved of the responsibility of choosing two other awards: the People’s Choice Award (voted on by visitors) and the Packer’s Prize (voted on by the team who helped set up the exhibition). Both of these awards were won by Gemma Mangano from Dardanup for her touching portrait paintings of her children.
This year marked the first time a Perth depot was introduced to assist metro-based artists in submitting their works, alongside the return of the Bunbury depot. A total of 17 artists took advantage of this opportunity.
Additionally, the exhibition made use of art rails on the artboards, lessening the need to drill when hanging pieces.
The most significant highlight of the exhibition however, was that the return of the event to the Town Hall after the cancellation of the event due to COVID-19 for two years, followed by the unavailability for an additional two years. This allowed more artists to enter more pieces with less restrictions, and it brought the five categories back with an open theme.
The Boyup Brook Community Resource Centre (CRC) extends a heartfelt thanks to the dedicated team of twenty volunteers, for their hard work and commitment in helping put this event together seamlessly.
The CRC also expresses gratitude to the generous sponsors and supporters of the 2025 event, including Talison Lithium, Boree Park Stud, Boyup Brook Co-op, Boyup Brook IGA, Boyup Brook Agricultural Supplies, Blackwood Valley Agencies, P&J Broockmann, Hampton Partners, Shire of Boyup Brook, Jacksons Drawing Supplies Bunbury, Watercolour Society of WA, Beulah Wines, Country Music Club of Boyup Brook, Oxlades Art Supplies and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
2025 Boyup Brook Art Awards - Winners List
TALISON LITHIUM OPEN PRIZE WINNER
WINNER: Kellee Merritt, Bejewelled
Works on Canvas / Board
1st prize: Gemma Mangano, Heavy Laden is My Soul With Her Own Ripe Fruit
2nd prize: Carmen McFaull, Voices of the Z-Bend
Highly Commended:
Teresa Vincent, Blue Murder
Lesley Curtis, Shall We Dance
Dee Credaro, Running Out of Room
Works on Paper
1st prize: Janet Winter, That True Grit
2nd prize: Kellee Merritt, Kimberley Coast
Highly Commended:
Dee Credaro, Kookaburra
Janet Winter, Look at Me
Mixed Media
1st prize: Dallas Pegrum, A Magic Moment
2nd prize: Dee Credaro, Running on Time
Highly Commended:
Jean Barrett, Desert, Forest, Ocean
Annie Williams, Ladies of the Land
Textiles
1st prize: Cait Gordon, Edges Found
2nd prize: Melanie Jarman, Sunset
Highly Commended:
Janelle Barnes, The Colour Outside
Melanie Jarman, Days Ending
3D Sculptures
1st prize: Glen & Phil Osterlund, The Glass Ceiling
2nd prize: Glen & Phil Osterlund, 1950s Splash Back
Highly Commended:
Paul Fontanini, Expand Your Horizons
Indigenous Award
Winner: Melanie Hume, Camerang Walk
Highly Commended:
Melanie Hume, Midnight Stars
Young Artist Award (Under 21) Winner
Winner: Taylor Barnes, Rustic
Highly Commended:
Kristy Barnes, Fred
Charlie Barnes, Tom
Packer’s Prize
Winner: Gemma Mangano, Not in the Hands of Boys But in Their Eyes
People’s Choice Award
Winner: Gemma Mangano, Heavy Laden is My Soul With Her Own Ripe Fruit
WINNER: Kellee Merritt, Bejewelled
Works on Canvas / Board
1st prize: Gemma Mangano, Heavy Laden is My Soul With Her Own Ripe Fruit
2nd prize: Carmen McFaull, Voices of the Z-Bend
Highly Commended:
Teresa Vincent, Blue Murder
Lesley Curtis, Shall We Dance
Dee Credaro, Running Out of Room
Works on Paper
1st prize: Janet Winter, That True Grit
2nd prize: Kellee Merritt, Kimberley Coast
Highly Commended:
Dee Credaro, Kookaburra
Janet Winter, Look at Me
Mixed Media
1st prize: Dallas Pegrum, A Magic Moment
2nd prize: Dee Credaro, Running on Time
Highly Commended:
Jean Barrett, Desert, Forest, Ocean
Annie Williams, Ladies of the Land
Textiles
1st prize: Cait Gordon, Edges Found
2nd prize: Melanie Jarman, Sunset
Highly Commended:
Janelle Barnes, The Colour Outside
Melanie Jarman, Days Ending
3D Sculptures
1st prize: Glen & Phil Osterlund, The Glass Ceiling
2nd prize: Glen & Phil Osterlund, 1950s Splash Back
Highly Commended:
Paul Fontanini, Expand Your Horizons
Indigenous Award
Winner: Melanie Hume, Camerang Walk
Highly Commended:
Melanie Hume, Midnight Stars
Young Artist Award (Under 21) Winner
Winner: Taylor Barnes, Rustic
Highly Commended:
Kristy Barnes, Fred
Charlie Barnes, Tom
Packer’s Prize
Winner: Gemma Mangano, Not in the Hands of Boys But in Their Eyes
People’s Choice Award
Winner: Gemma Mangano, Heavy Laden is My Soul With Her Own Ripe Fruit
2020 Boyup Brook Art Awards
click here for results
click here for results
