Judges announced for Cossack Art Awards

The opening of the Cossack Art Awards is just a couple of weeks away and three of Australia’s most respected artists are set to descend on the historic settlement to judge the prestigious competition.

World-renowned street artist Stormie Mills, Melbourne-based Archibald Prize-winning contemporary artist Sam Leach and award-winning Curtin University John Curtin Gallery manager Jane King will form the judging panel for this year’s awards.

The awards consist of 10 categories, with the winners to be announced at a gala on Saturday, July 20.

City director community services Arron Minchin said the awards continue to attract a panel of accomplished artists with diverse backgrounds to judge the highly anticipated awards.

“For 27 years, the Cossack Art Awards have continued to grow in size and reputation to become one of the country’s leading regional art prizes,” he said.

“I have no doubt this year’s high calibre judging panel will have their work cut out for them as they consider the impressive standard of submissions entered by artists from across the Pilbara and beyond.”

Stormie Mills first came to Cossack in 2017 and camped on site for The Vast Project. He is best known for his whimsical, thought-provoking characters.

Jane King has had an extensive career in the arts and culture sector and is gallery manager of John Curtin Gallery, while Sam Leach’s paintings and installations draw on the history of visual representations of science.

The exhibition opens to the public on July 21 and runs until August 11.