Photo of crowd at the opening of Basil Sellers Exhibition Centre banner image

Basil Sellers Art Prize

The Basil Sellers Art Prize is a biennial competition celebrating and awarding artistic excellence and creative practice and offers a prize pool of over $30,000.

In 2022 the prize became a nationwide prize with a new direction for the latest evolution and an increased major prize of $25,000. The prize will champion 2D artworks in traditional medium and will call for entries from across Australia. The Eurobodalla award will continue to support local artists, ensuring their important place within the prize is safeguarded, while showcasing our local talent on a national stage.

History of the prize

The Basil Sellers Art Prize was founded in 2004 by businessman, philanthropist and art collector Mr Basil Sellers AM. Through a chance connection to Moruya, Mr Sellers developed a long and fruitful partnership with the Shire that has supported Eurobodalla’s artistic community in a meaningful way.

In 2018 the biennial prize was opened to include artists from NSW and the ACT with the major prize increased to $20,000.

Until 2016, Basil Sellers AM was the sole contributor of the prize. From 2018, a new award sponsored by Eurobodalla Shire Council was introduced. The Eurobodalla Award of $5000 honours a local entry into the prize and the work acquired for the Council’s permanent collection.

2022 prize winners

Image 2022 Major prize winner, oil painting by Michael Thomson titled An Encounter on the Path that Leads to the River. Detail
2022 Major prize winner, oil painting by Michael Thomson titled An Encounter on the Path that Leads to the River. Detail.
Image 2022 Eurobodalla Prize winner, watercolour inks by Gillian Wilde titled Glory Going.
2022 Eurobodalla Prize winner, watercolour inks by Gillian Wilde titled Glory Going. Detail.
Image 2022 Peoples Choice Award winner Jane Millington Storms Dont Last Forever. Detail
2022 Peoples Choice winner, oil painting by Jane Millington titled Storms Dont Last Forever. Detail.
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Michael Thomson is the winner of the 2022 Basil Sellers Art Prize with his work titled An Encounter on the Path that Leads to the River. Thomson receives $25,000 and his winning work is acquired by Mr Basil Sellers AM.

Gillian Wilde is the 2022 Eurobodalla Prize winner with her work Glory Going. Wilde receives $5,000 and the opportunity for a solo exhibition in the Basil Sellers Exhibition Centre 2023 program.

Jane Millington is the recipient of the $500 People's Choice Award for her work titled Storms Don't Last Forever.

2022 virtual exhibition tour

Past winners

BSAP past winners include some of the most outstanding artists from the region whose practices traverse a number of mediums.

  • 2020: Peter Matthew Yates - Connection
  • 2018: Anh Nguyen – Jamboree Mornings
  • 2016: Merryn Sommerville – Ghosts I’ve met
  • 2014: Susan Chancellor – The family lounge
  • 2012: Frances Luke – Mossy Point Headland 1
  • 2010: Stan Squires – Pambula river mouth
  • 2008: Kerry Johns – Lilli Pilli
  • 2006: Jennifer Hawkins – …and on that day they shall rise up…
  • 2004: Sue Christie – Life chaos and everything

More information

For assistance with accessibility or enquiries on entries please contact us.