Joshua’s stunning painting is the People’s Choice

Emerging young Tasmanian artist Joshua Andree has received the People’s Choice Award at the 2023 Hadley’s Art Prize.

His stunning piece ‘Once Still Water (Requiem for a Lake)’ depicts a lake in Queenstown on Tasmania’s West Coast, and won the hearts of the voting public.

The painting expresses the residue of Mt Lyell’s mining pursuits, evoking the West Coast’s wild weather. It is framed with wood from an old King Billy Pine pipe which once held the water from the lake depicted.

“This win means so much to me,” Mr Andree said.

“It’s really encouraging as an artist to know audiences enjoy my work. Even just to be a finalist in the Hadley’s Art Prize is amazing.

“On opening night, I felt like a kid who’d been invited to sit at the adults’ table on Christmas Day. Now I feel like I’ve won the bon-bon.”

Mr Andree was awarded $2500 by The Mercury newspaper. Hadley’s Art Prize curator Amy Jackett praised Mr Andree’s work, noting how much the public enjoyed viewing his painting.

“I’m not surprised this large, eye-catching work won the People’s Choice,” she said.

“It really grabs your attention as you enter the gallery, and people enjoy it even more when they hear the story and see the special frame.”

For more information on the Hadley’s Art Prize, visit hadleysartprize.com.au