Winner of National Photographic Portrait Prize announced

Sydney portrait photographer Gary Grealy has taken top honours at this year's Portrait Prize.

by Justine Nguyen on 31 March, 2017

Acclaimed Sydney portrait photographer Gary Grealy has been named as the winner of the 2017 National Photographic Portrait Prize. He has been a finalist seven times previously in the eight-year history of the Prize.

George Fetting, guest judge for the 2017 prize, was captivated by Grealy’s winning portrait, titled Richard Morecroft and Alison Mackay. “Gary Grealy’s portrait is a wonderful collaboration with the sitters, Richard and Alison. He has beautifully conveyed a mixture of subdued emotions in a simple, direct but captivating image”, said Fetting.

“For me, the contrasting facial expressions, body language and soft side lighting combine to produce a painterly quality of a time gone by. It’s a meticulous work cloaked in curiosity and intrigue, with the furtive smile to seduce the viewer”.

Grealy believes his artwork reflects his inspiration to take up portrait photography: “When I began making portraits of artists in the 90s, the thrill of entering the domain of creativity filled me with excitement, and I must admit a little envy at the talent I saw. I began making portraits of artists for no other reason than the love of art. The National Photographic Portrait Prize gave me a purpose to continue to make portraits of artists, gallery directors and philanthropists, and as a result my portraits have been exhibited eight times in the ten year history of the prize”.

Grealy will receive $25,000 from the Portrait Gallery and a Profoto B1 location kit.

For the first time in its history, the Gallery has honoured two finalists as Highly Commended: John Benavente for his portrait titled Renaissance Rose, and Brett Canet-Gibson for his portrait Mastura. Fetting believed that the two portraits were equally distinguished, and while both feature women looking directly to camera, they are stylistically worlds apart.

“John Benavente’s lovely portrait displays a teenage girl that could have been created by an old master painter of the 16th century. She exudes composure beyond her years in this monochrome image, with beguiling eyes. I am drawn back to it over and over again”, said Fetting.

^{Renassaice Rose 2016 by John Benavente.}

“Brett Canet-Gibson’s portrait is once again deceptively simple. Photographed with natural light, it conveys a quiet confidence to the viewer. The black on black of the dress and background highlights the face and the intrigue of the slightly crooked but endearing smile”.

^{Mastura by Brett Canet-Gibson.}