About The Mandorla Art Award

The Mandorla Art Award for contemporary religious art is Australia’s most significant thematic Christian art prize, attracting some of the country’s finest artists since its 1985 inception.

Mandorla (MAN-dor-la) is an Italian word meaning almond. It refers to an almond-shaped halo or aura that we find around many of the medieval images around the whole body of an image or icon of Jesus or Mary, the meaning of which is the principal idea of The Mandorla Centre of Inner Peace. Run by a dedicated committee of volunteers who oversee all aspects of the awards, the not-for-profit Mandorla does not receive any Government funding but does have DGR status. It, therefore, relies entirely on sponsors and the good will of individuals for its survival.

In addition to the main exhibition held in Perth, a second hanging is held at the famous New Norcia Museum and Art Gallery in the popular tourist destination of New Norcia.

Past winners include John Coburn (1996); Nigel Hewitt (1991, 1992); Brian McKay (1986, 2002); and Julie Dowling (2000) who was named the most collectible artist in Australia shortly after her win. Another notable winner was the much beloved Western Australian artist, Michael Kane Taylor (2004). The 2010 winner was Annette Allman and the winner of the inaugural youth art award in the same year was Emma Itzstein.

Sponsorship and patronage from St John of God Health Care, the Catholic, Anglican and Uniting churches, and the Benedictine monks of New Norcia makes Mandorla a truly ecumenical award.

The Mandorla Youth Art Award

The Mandorla Youth Art Award was the brainchild of St John of God Health Care, the Mandorla Art Award’s major sponsor.

The inspiration came from the not-for-profit Catholic health care provider’s Social Outreach and Advocacy services that focus on building capacity among young people experiencing disadvantage, a situation which applies equally to young artists.

As a result, the work of eight emerging, talented young artists was displayed alongside the main award entries during the 2010 exhibition.

This important development has encouraged young artists to consider contemporary religious art as a viable genre and ensured the sustainability of the Mandorla by creating a stream of potential future entrants for the main award.

The Vision

The Mandorla Art Award offers artists and the public a new vision that is actually a very old vision, the place of the Christian religion in art. It is the fulfilment of a dream held by a small group of committed Christians, the Mandorla Centre of Inner Peace.

Wishing to balance the largely secular nature of most art seen in today’s galleries, the Mandorla Art Award Committee selects a particular theme or passage from the Bible, Old or New Testaments.
This unique approach among Australian religious art prizes invites artists to think laterally and with sensitivity by interpreting this in two- or three-dimensional works.

Each award sees around thirty works selected as finalists – artworks which challenge viewers to embrace diversity and to view the world through different perspectives and sensibilities.

About The Mandorla Committee

Fr. Christopher Ross

“Mandorla has allowed me to use my organisational skills, combined with a deep interest in art, especially religious art, to foster creativity and tenacity in the committee.”

The committee’s treasurer, Fr. Ross has been an active member of the Mandorla committee – almost since its inception – and keeps the group focused on the underlying religious orientation of the Award. He is a priest in the Catholic Church and a member of the 13th century Florentine Order of The Servants of Mary (Servites).

Camilla Loveridge

“Mandorla allows me to embrace the opportunity to integrate art practitioners in a national arena.”

Curator of the 2012 award, Camilla is a practicing visual artist with a fundamental passion for lifelong learning and the integration of art into the community, connecting people locally through teaching, residencies, and the workshops she conducts from her home studio near Fremantle.

Dr. Angela McCarthy

“Religious art is critical to how we perceive the Gospel so the Mandorla Art Award’s contribution is religiously and nationally important.”

Chair of the committee, Angela lectures in theology at the University of Notre Dame Australia. Her current area of research explores the connections between Scripture and art.

Patricia Toohey

“As a founding member of the Mandorla Centre of Inner Peace, I have seen the Mandorla Art Award evolve to achieve its current prestigious status.”

Patricia is an art lover and teacher, having taught at schools in England, Canada, Malaysia, Indonesia and finally Australia. A committee member for 25 years, she engages deeply in prayer and deliberation, helping to ‘Lift Jesus Higher’ through meditation and the arts.

Desmond Ryan

“Mandorla is a pathway leading us towards a deeper understanding of religion as it is interpreted through art.”

Desmond currently works as a gold and silversmith, having been a science and later art and design teacher. He joined the Mandorla Centre of Inner Peace in 1994 and continues to contribute significant effort towards fundraising, transporting and setting up of the exhibits.

Doreen Menon

“Mandorla is life giving and the art it inspires helps to maintain a sense of inner balance in a tumultuous world.”

Doreen has been an invaluable member of the Mandorla committee since 1993 and is instrumental in fundraising and all that goes with getting ready for Mandorla opening nights and staffing the exhibition.

Fiona Clark

“Mandorla means new challenges, particularly for Australia’s young emerging artists.”

Fiona advises and assists in the PR and marketing of the awards. She is currently PR Manager for St John of God Health Care, where she is also a member of the organisation’s art committee. Her experience also includes magazine journalism and health.

Rev. Peter Sellick

“Being associated with the Mandorla prize has challenged me to integrate my love of art with an understanding of how the presence of God is mediated by art.”

Peter has a background in hearing research and after a period as a Uniting Church minister is now an Anglican Deacon. He is completing a PhD in an aspect of Trinitarian theology.

Maureen Sellick

“My involvement in the Mandorla Art Award committee enables me to combine my love of art and my organisational skills to assist in developing the award and encouraging artists to produce high quality Christian art.”

Maureen has a background in Social Work and has worked in advocacy, management and policy in a not for profit agency. She is currently Director of Coondle Art Presentations.