bentART shines for Queen’s Birthday

bentArt Australia’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender art exhibition achieved new heights this year.  For the first time entries were open to artists through-out Australia, resulting in  55 artists entering  more than 120 pieces of artwork.

With atmospheric curation by Sophie Seeger and Jane Canfield, the Wentworth Falls School of Arts has rarely felt more creative.  John Kirkman (CEO of Penrith Performing & Visual Arts) judged the major category prizes, while Geoff White (Katoomba Fine Art Gallery) awarded the new entrant prize.  The overall bentART prize was won by Peter Williamson for his meticulously woven sculpture ‘Whorl’.

The newly created youth and Indigenous artists’ prizes were not awarded due to insufficient entries and a  Runner Up prize was awarded in their place.  John Turner received the Runner Up prize with his painting  ”I am what I am”.

With more than 350 people attending the opening night the exhibition was a sensational success, and keen art-lovers continued to experience the show across the entire Queen’s Birthday long weekend.  As one participant  commented “bentART is the LGBT event where everyone talks to each other, enjoys the artwork and has fun.”

“As well as being a great success as an inclusive community event, launching the new pinkFest, this year’s bentART was also a great commercial success” says Julie Martin (President).

More than 20% of the artwork was sold with sales at the $12,000 mark.

Check out the prize winners here.

Check out the full range of entries here.

Check out images from opening night here.

Look out for next year’s call for entries