Highlights from the Tastes of Art Prize 2025

Highlights from the Tastes of Art Prize 2025

The Tastes of Art Prize 2025 was an incredible success, bringing our tiny town of Rutherglen to life this March with stunning artwork from across Australia. The 10-day exhibition showcased over 400 exceptional pieces, with more than 40 sold during the event.

The highlight sale was Matt Kinsey’s captivating painting, Morning at the Goods Yard, Wangaratta, which fetched an impressive $2,200. This remarkable piece also earned Matt First Prize in the Painting/Mixed Media category, along with a $2,000 award.

We were thrilled to see Susie Goodyear shine once again, winning the People’s Choice Award for an unprecedented third consecutive year – an extraordinary accomplishment! In addition, Susie received First Prize in the Painting/Mixed Media category for her stunning piece, With All That I Am, securing another $2,000 prize.

Rosie Bulmer also had a stellar moment this year, taking home a Youth Award for the second year in a row with her exquisite drawings. Her incredible talent continues to inspire us all.

Here are the winners across all sections:

Youth (Sponsored by Indigo Shire)

• Lily Wells, The Chess Board
• Rosie Bulmer, Timeless Love

• Maggie McGhee, Authentic

Painting/Mixed Media

• Susie Goodyear, With All That I Am (sponsored by Corowa Furnishings)
• Matt Kinsey, Morning at the Goods Yard, Wangaratta (sponsored by Campbells Wines)

• Tony Pridham, Warby Ranges Turquoise (sponsored by Destination Rutherglen)

Work on Paper

• Winner: Pamela Florance, The Pink Vase (sponsored by Hennessy)

• 2nd Place: Sandy Dare, Serenity (sponsored by The Victoria Hotel)

3D Artworks

• Jacqui Melbourne, The Dog (sponsored by Electric Motor Rewiring)

Photography

• 1st Place: Mieke Boyton, Beams of Light (sponsored by Corowa Jewellery)
• People: Ashley Walker, The First Bath (sponsored by Jack & the Fox)
• Illustrative: Vicki Cain, Puzzled (sponsored by Melissa Thomas)
• Animals: Annie Brown, Highland Coo (sponsored by Arts Rutherglen)
• Places: David Skinner, Conness Street (sponsored by Francis Transport)

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the incredible volunteers at Arts Rutherglen, whose tireless dedication made the Opening Night and the entire exhibition an unforgettable experience. Your efforts are the backbone of this event, and we couldn’t have achieved this success without you.

We owe a tremendous thank you to our incredible sponsors. Your generosity made it possible for us to offer such outstanding prize money and raffle prizes. We truly couldn’t have achieved this success without your support!

We are immensely proud to have had the privilege of exhibiting such outstanding talent this year. We eagerly look forward to the next show! To explore more of this year’s exhibited artworks, visit our Facebook page: Arts Rutherglen.