The National Portrait Gallery is thrilled to announce that the People’s Choice award for this year’s National Photographic Portrait Prize goes to Natalie Grono from Byron Bay for her photograph Feather and the Goddess Pool 2014.
This is the fourth and the most popular People’s Choice award in the prize’s history. 10,000 votes were cast during the exhibition’s run, both in the exhibition space and through the Gallery’s website, reinforcing the democratic credentials of the prize.
On receiving the news Natalie Grono said ‘I am thrilled to be chosen from this field of remarkable photographers. I am excited that the portrait of Feather resonated with so many people and I thank Feather for her confidence and wisdom!’
This year, SUNSTUDIOS are generously providing the winner of the People’s Choice Award with a day’s studio hire in either Melbourne or Sydney valued at $2,000. One lucky voter wins a weekend to Canberra including two nights at Crowne Plaza Canberra and a private tour of the Portrait Gallery.
The final forty six portraits in the exhibition were chosen from 2500 entries from around Australia – the most entries ever received. This year’s judges, Angus Trumble, Portrait Gallery Director, Dr Christopher Chapman, Senior Curator, National Portrait Gallery and invited guest judge, professional photographer Nikki Toole, had previously awarded the $25,000 cash prize to Hoda Afshar for Portrait of Ali 2014. The full list of finalists is available at portrait.gov.au/nppp.
Dr Christopher Chapman commented that ‘The portrait of Feather was a popular favourite with exhibition visitors. It conveys a strong sense of her bold character and her connection to the natural environment of Byron Bay. The photograph uses black-and-white tones to create a dynamic layering of surfaces: ruffled water, crinkled rocks, and the texture of Feather’s own skin.’
The National Photographic Portrait Prize 2015 exhibition will now embark on a North Queensland tour, beginning at Artspace Mackay 10 July – 30 August; Cairns Regional Gallery 11 September – 18 October; Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery 9 December 2015 – 31 January 2016 and finishing at Rockhampton Art Gallery 20 February – 2 April 2016.