Artist Nick Collerson admits he was “pleasantly surprised and very flattered” to take out the inaugural MAC yapang Art Prize.

The Sydneysider secured $30,000 for his oil on canvas work, Theoria, when the winners were announced at the Museum of Art and Culture (MAC) last month.

Touted as the richest acquisitive art prize in regional NSW, totalling $40,000, it attracted more than 800 entries from throughout Australia.

The $5,000 yapang Award for First Nation creatives went to James Tylor’s Tapa-arra Through the Landscape 11 & 14 , while locally-based Adele Merdjanic’s Lakeside Tinny collected the $5,000 Lake Mac Award.

“The strength of art is that it doesn’t tell people what to think,” Collerson said.

“It’s a chance to reflect.

“It leaves space for the interpretation of the viewe

See Full Page