Mia Mala MCDONALD
Unveiling tomorrow 2024
pigment ink-jet print, watercolour paint, watercolour pencil
courtesy of the artist
The Bowness Photography Prize is an anchor to our annual programming, and with the introduction of the $10,000 Wai Tang Commissioning Award, the prize continues to increase the ways in which it grows and deepens its support of artists and their practice.
Anouska Phizacklea, MAPh Director
Over the last 19 years, the William and Winifred Bowness Photography Prize has emerged as an important annual survey of contemporary photographic practice in Australia and one of the most prestigious prizes in the country. MAPh invites artists to submit still photo-based media including analogue and digital photography created over the last year for consideration. The winning work will be awarded $30,000 and will be acquired into MAPh’s nationally significant collection of Australian photographs. One artist will also be selected for the $10,000 Wai Tang Commissioning Award, which is graciously supported by Kee Wong and Stacey Wang and which will coincide with the 2025 Bowness Photography Prize exhibition season. MAPh warmly welcomes Camera House as the supporter of the People’s Choice Award voted by the public. Camera House is offering $2,500 cash and $2,500 in-kind support to the People's Choice recipient.
The MAPh Foundation recognises the importance of supporting practising artists and the positive impact the prize money for both the winner and People’s Choice Award will have on the recipients.
MAPh welcomes back Colour Factory as the supporter of the Honourable Mentions selected by the judges. Colour Factory is a fine art photographic studio in Melbourne offering fine art printing vouchers to three recipients.
Hameed Akinwande, Zia Atahi, Ramak Bamzar, Chris Barry, Yashodha Boopalan, Renee Broders, Lina Buck, Khoi Manh Bui, Emil Canita, Aletheia Casey, Danica Chappell, Saville Coble, Renato Colangelo, Michael Corridore, Teva Cosic, Zo Damage, Lucas Davidson, J Davies, Rianon Dillon, Ella Dreyfus, Jo Duck, Jennifer Eadie, Michele Elliot with Frances Mocnik, Robert Fielding, Axel Garay, Juno Gemes, Michaela Gleave, Jody Haines, Siri Hayes, Andrew Hazewinkel, Anna Higgins, Naomi Hobson, Yasmin Idriss, ISOyoh (Karenne Ann and Heather Horrocks), Minami Ivory, Natasha Johns-Messenger, Ayman Kaake, Kate Kennedy, Shea Kirk, Janet Laurence, Kirsten Lyttle, Judith Martinez Estrada, Mia Mala McDonald, Rod McNicol, Stavros Messinis, Kent Morris, James Nguyen, Deborah Paauwe, Amanda Page, Trent Parke, Travis Paterson, Minh-An Pham, Diego Pizarro, Patrick Pound, Cameron Robbins, Joan Ross, Helga Salwe, Jessica Schwientek, Greg Semu, Talia Smith, Cecilia Sordi Campos, Tace Stevens, Nathan Stolz, Darren Tanny Tan, Angela Tiatia, wani toaishara, James Tylor, Justine Varga, Alex Walker, Amanda Williams, Rudi Williams, Amy Woodward, Jemima Wyman, William Yang
The MAPh Foundation is thrilled to announce that MAPh Director Anouska Phizacklea is joined on the judging panel by artist and academic Dr Peta Clancy and Brett Rogers OBE, former Director of Photographers’ Gallery, London.
With the launch of MAPh's new website an archive of past finalists since 2013 is now available creating a rich resource of contemporary Australian photographic practice.
View past as well as present finalists of the Bowness Photography Prize
For further information on the Bowness Photography Prize contact us at the museum at bowness@monash.vic.gov.au
The Museum of Australian Photography Foundation (MAPh Foundation) was established in 2005 with the aim to support the institution’s financial sustainability. Since then, MAPh Foundation has assisted the museum in raising awareness and funds to expand its nationally significant photography collection and yearly exhibition programming. This is achieved through the support of the museum’s philanthropic and fundraising program and annual art prize.
Yankunytjatjara artist Robert Fielding has won the 2024 Bowness Photography Prize for his commanding work of protest, ‘Sacred earth / Manta Miil miilpa’ (2024).
Sydney artist Anne Zahalka has been awarded $30,000 for her winning work ‘Kunstkammer’ (2023) and the work will be acquired into MAPh’s nationally significant collection of Australian photographs.
Melbourne artist Amos Gebhardt has been awarded $30,000 for their winning work ‘Wallaby’ (2022) and the work will be acquired into MAPh’s nationally significant collection of Australian photographs.
The 2023 Wai Tang Commissioning Award has been granted to artist duo The Huxleys. They will present an exhibition of work at MAPh alongside the Bowness Photography Prize in 2024.
We warmly congratulate Zo Damage on receiving the Smith & Singer People’s Choice Award for the 2023 Bowness Photography Prize.