First awarded in 1965, The Portia Geach Memorial Award was established by Florence Kate Geach in memory of her sister, artist Portia Geach. As per the direction of the will, the Award is annually presented to an Australian female artist for the best portrait painted from life of a man or woman distinguished in art, letters or the sciences.Geach was widely acclaimed as a leading artist and was a frequent commentator in the national media – making her an iconic figure in the Australian arts community. The Portia Geach Memorial Award is given by Perpetual as trustee, to the entry with the highest artistic merit.
Winners
Sydney-based artist Sophie Cape has been announced as the winner of the 2014 Portia Geach Memorial Award, the preeminent portraiture prize for women in Australia. As trustee of the Award, the Trust Company, part of Perpetual, presented Ms Cape with the $30,000 prize for her portrait of actor Daniel Wyllie, entitled Romper Stomper.
Mosman artist Ann Cape has won the Portia Geach People’s Choice Award with a portrait of her mother, Artist Gwenna Thatcher. This moving portrait of Cape’s mother was painted just before she passed away, at the age of 96.
This is the second time Ann Cape has won the Portia Geach People’s Choice Award. It is also the first time that a mother and daughter have won both the Portia Geach Memorial Award and the Portia Geach People’s Choice Award.
Finalists
