Winners of the 2025 Maldon Portrait Prize
Two loves, rain and art. Last Saturday at 2pm over 250 art enthusiasts amassed at Cascade Art Gallery in Fountain Street in sweet little Maldon to await the final announcements for the Maldon Portrait Prize. As the rain poured down cleaning the rosemary leaves and washing away a layer of dust, there was an air of expectancy building inside amongst the crowd. All eyes on the prize and no pressure, Judge Drendel.
Great turnout for the announcement of winners of the Maldon Portrait Prize. (Photography credit: Cailin Grant-Jansen)
Wine flowed. Great bon amie amongst brothers and sister of the brush flourished. Talk of being an artist, or not; talk of travels to Italia or what’s going on around the traps, talk of why we just love paintings, flourished. It was a terrific warm, friendly central Victorian crowd with some extras coming in to the throng from as far away as Cairns and Sydney. Most impressed with these finalists who travelled so far to be so near. Thank you for your efforts and contribution.
CONGRATULATIONS go to -
The $10,000 2025 Maldon Portrait Prize was announced.
Maldon Portrait Prize winner ESTHER SCHOUTEN. (Photography credit: Cailin Grant-Jansen).
The winning Maldon Portrait Prize was awarded to ESTHER SCHOUTEN with her painting Kate Hudson in Her Studio (Currawong’s Visit). (Photography credit: Cailin Grant-Jansen).
Announcement of the 2025 Emerging Artist Portrait Prize
The 2025 Emerging Artist Portrait Prize was awarded to ANH NGUYEN Short-Sighted Self-Portrait as Roman Statue. (Photography credit: Cailin Grant-Jansen).
Congratulations to all 160 artists who entered and to the 45 finalist who are now on display at Cascade Art Gallery until the 29 June 2025.
As is said, ‘prizes are a bit of a raffle’. Politics. Bias. Timing. Influencers. Judgement. Luck. Loves. Bad hair day, so many variables which is why art is not a science, but a humanity and on balance, I would argue we could do with a little more of art/humanity in the world about now. Make up your own mind.
From 30 June 2025 all 160 entrants will be visible in an online exhibition at the Maldon Art Network website and the winner will be awarded $500. This award is online, and voting will be open until Wednesday 10 September 2025.
Go to People’s Choice Online Prize from 30 June 2025 at maldonartistnetwork.org.au