Sculpture by the Sea
The Sculpture by the Sea exhibition in Sydney and Perth is Australia's largest annual outdoor sculpture exhibition. This exhibition was initiated in 1997, at Bondi Beach and it featured sculptures by both Australian and overseas artists. In 2005, a companion event was established at Cottesloe Beach in Western Australia featuring over 70 artists. In 2009 it was announced that Aarhus in Denmark would host the first Sculpture by the Sea exhibition outside of Australia.
This exhibition is held annually during spring in Australia, from late October to early November for three weeks. Over 100 local, interstate and international artists participate every year. Sculpture by the Sea is incredibly popular and draws considerable crowds. In 2014 Waverley Council estimated that between 450,000 and 500,000 people would visit the sculptures during their exhibition in Sydney.
History
In 1995, David Handley, founder of Sculpture by the Sea, was living in Prague. He visited an outdoor sculpture park in Klatovy, northern Bohemia. He was inspired to do something similar in Australia. On his return to Sydney in 1996, His friends suggested the Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk as a suitable location. At first, he planned on having paintings as well as sculptures, naming this exhibition "Art by the Sea" but dropped the idea as the weather can be unpredictable on the coast. This is how Sculpture by the Sea came into being.The first exhibition was put together in a span of 10 weeks and on a shoestring budget. It was held over one day at Bondi and garnered a lot of interest from the media and 20,000 spectators. They received a total of 189 entries from 138 artists and featured 64 of them. The judges included David Cook, John MacDonald, Terence Measham, Dr Gene Sherman and Sculptor Ron Robertson-Swann
The exhibition has only suffered from the weather on the coast. In 1998, rough conditions on the coastline, lead to six sculptures being damaged. Ann Thompson's sculpture worth $40,000 was damaged due to huge waves. In 1999, Duncan Stemler's Give a little whistle was wrecked due to rough weather conditions. The exhibition also suffered from some vandalism, Carol Murphy's $2000 still life The Watcher was stolen only for one part of it to be returned. in 1999, part of Tom Bass's Gender Pieces was pushed into the sea by vandals.
The works are spread right across the cliff from Bronte Beach to Bondi Beach via Tamarama Beach. Every year the coastal walk is transformed into a seaside art gallery. Over 100 sculptures are exhibited in the background of sea and the coastal landscape along the two kilometre coastal walk. Sculpture by the Sea began in 1996 with an exhibition held over one day at Bondi and is now an annual event.
Awards
For the first eight years, the main prize was provided by Sydney Water and most of the award-winning works were gifted to Campbelltown Arts Centre. In 2006 and 2007, NAB sponsored the main prize and the works made their way to Orange Regional Gallery. From 2009 – 2012, the Balnaves Foundation sponsored the main prize to the winning sculptor in the exhibition, and the works gifted to the Royal Botanic Gardens. From 2013 – 2015, it was Macquarie Group and the works gifted to Sydney Harbour Federation Trust for placement at George’s Heights. There are many other scholarship and prizes that come out of this exhibition including the Helen Lempriere Scholarship, The Clitheroe Foundation Emerging Sculptor Mentorship Program and Allens People's Choice Award. There is also an encouragement award for younger artists.| Year | Winner | Name of Winning Sculpture | Prize |
| 2018 | James Parrett | M-fortysix | Aqualand |
| 2017 | David Ball | Orb | Aqualand |
| 2016 | Johannes Pannekoek | Change Ahead | Aqualand |
| 2015 | Jörg Plickat | Divided Planet | Macquarie Group |
| 2014 | Peter Lundberg | Ring | Macquarie Group |
| 2013 | Stephen King | Fallout | Macquarie Group |
| 2012 | Peter Lundberg | Barrell Roll | Balnaves Foundation |
| 2011 | Paul Selwood | Paradiegma metaphysic | Balnaves Foundation |
| 2010 | Keld Moseholm | Mirroring 1995 | Balnaves Foundation |
| 2009 | May Barrie | Time and tide granite monolith ll | Balnaves Foundation |
| 2008 | Mark McClelland | She thought | ? |
| 2007 | David Horton | Yesternight: a year in progress | NAB |
| 2006 | Orest Keywan | ...and with a name to come | NAB |
| 2005 | Vaclav Fiala | Chapel | |
| 2004 | Vaclav Fiala | Belfry for Jorn Uton | Sydney Water |
| 2003 | Richard Goodwin | Carapace | Sydney Water |
| 2002 | Kate Davis | Target | Sydney Water |
| 2001 | Nigel Harrison | Omeomi | Sydney Water |
| 2000 | Libby Bloxham and Richie Kuhaupt | Celebrating diversity and Hollowman respectively | Sydney Water |
| 1999 | Orest Keywan | With a View | Sydney Water |
| 1998 | Campbell Robertson-Swann | Night Passage | Sydney Water |
| 1997 | Michael Le Grand and Duncan Stemler | Deshabille and Venus respectively | Sydney Water |
THE RECIPIENTS FROM BONDI, 2014
| Artwork name | Sculptor/s | Prize |
| Ring | Peter Lundberg | The Macquarie Group Sculpture Prize of $60,000 |
| Gamma Gamma - Storm | Elaine Clocherty | The Helen Lempriere Scholarship of $30,000 |
| Oceania Cartouche | Jock Clutterbuck | The Helen Lempriere Scholarship of $30,000 |
| Wind Stone - The Threshold of Consciousness | Koichi Ishino | The Helen Lempriere Scholarship of $30,000 |
| The Folly | Stephen King | Artistic Excellence Program, Donated by Leonie & James Furber of $10,000 |
| Morning Star | Ayako Saito | The Clitheroe Foundation Emerging Artists Mentor Program of $10,000 |
| Other | Samantha Stephenson | The Clitheroe Foundation Emerging Artists Mentor Program of $10,000 |
| Comenavadrink and Waddayalookinat | Thomas Quayle | The Clitheroe Foundation Emerging Artists Mentor Program of $10,000 |
| Bondi Points | Chris Bailey | The Wallace Arts Trust New Zealand Sculptor Award of NZ$7,000 |
| Breaching | Michael Greve | The Allens People's Choice Prize of $5,000 |
| Overconsumption | Kerrie Argent | Waverley Council Mayor's Prize of $5,000 |
| House of Mirrors | NEON | The Andrea Stretton Memorial Invitation of $5,000 |
| A spacious affair. From the outside to the inside. | Mikala Valeur | The Kids' Choice Prize of $3,000 |
| To take care of | Hannah Streefkerk | Art Gallery Society of NSW Prize |
| Modern Family | Ralph Tikerpae | Sculpture Inside Curators' Prize of $2,500 |
| The Ascetic | Naidee Changmoh | Waverley Council Parks Staff Prize |
| Breaching | Michael Greve | Sculpture by the Sea Staff Choice Prize |
THE RECIPIENTS FROM BONDI, 2013
| Artwork name | Sculptor/s | Prize |
| Fallout | Stephen King | The Macquarie Group Sculpture Prize of $60,000 |
| Horizon | Lucy Humphrey | The Helen Lempriere Scholarship of $30,000 |
| A to B | Francesca Matagara | The Helen Lempriere Scholarship of $30,000 |
| The Museum | Paul Selwood | The Helen Lempriere Scholarship of $30,000 |
| Provincia Deserta | Keywan Orest | Artistic Excellence Program, Donated by Leonie & James Furber of $10,000 |
| Let Your Palm Do the Walking | Tom Blake | The Clitheroe Foundation Emerging Artists Mentor Program of $10,000 |
| Moment of Clarity | David Hashimoto | The Clitheroe Foundation Emerging Artists Mentor Program of $10,000 |
| Washed Up | Tunni Kraus | The Clitheroe Foundation Emerging Artists Mentor Program of $10,000 |
| Diminish and Ascend | David Mccracken | The Wallace Arts Trust New Zealand Sculptor Award of NZ$7,000 |
| X | Philip Spellman | The Regional NSW Sculpture Acquisition Program of $20,000 |
| Husk | Marcus Tatton | Art Gallery of NSW Prize of $5000 |
| Nomadic City: Lest We Forget | Sally Kidall | Sydney Water Environmental Prize of $5000 |
| Saved | Rox De Luca | The AGNSW Society Volunteer Task Force Site Specific Award of $4000 |
| Horizon | Lucy Humphrey | The Allens People's Choice Prize of $5,000 |
| Tyranny of Distance | Roh Singh | Sculpture Inside Curators' Prize of $2,500 |
| Horizon | Lucy Humphrey | Kids' Choice Prize of $3,000 |
| French Knitting | Mia Hamilton | Waverley Council Mayor's Choice |
| A Message From Fantasia | MAkiho Tata | Sculpture Inside Curators Prize of $2,500 |
THE RECIPIENTS FROM BONDI, 2012
| Artwork name | Sculptor/s | Prize |
| Barrel Roll | Peter Lundberg | The Balnaves Foundation Sculpture Prize of $70,000 |
| Tete-a-Tete | Philip Spelman | The Helen Lempriere Scholarship of $30,000 |
| Luchtkasteel | Tom de Munk-Kerkmeer | The Helen Lempriere Scholarship of $30,000 |
| Red Herring | Lou Lambert | The Helen Lempriere Scholarship of $30,000 |
| April, Cherry Blossoms | Koichi Ishino | Artistic Excellence Program, Donated by Leonie & James Furber of $10,000 |
| Suburban Monument | Aaron Anderson | The Clitheroe Foundation Emerging Artists Mentor Program of $10,000 |
| The Drogue | Kate Stehr | The Clitheroe Foundation Emerging Artists Mentor Program of $10,000 |
| Weight Pulls Me Down, Strength Pulls Me Up | Elyssa Sykes-Smith | The Clitheroe Foundation Emerging Artists Mentor Program of $10,000 |
| Together | Elaine Clocherty | The Andrea Stretton Memorial Invitation |
| GhostNet Crocodile 2011 | GhostNets Australia | Sydney Water Environmental Prize of $10,000 |
| Invasive Colonisation | Alex Goad | Art Gallery of NSW Prize of $5000 |
| Surprise | Karin Van der Molen | The AGNSW Society Volunteer Task Force Site Specific Award of $4000 |
| Menengang | Cave Urban | The Allens People's Choice Prize |
| Spatial Memorial | Roh Singh | Sculpture Inside Curators' Prize of $2,500 |
| GhostNet Crocodile 2011 | GhostNets Australia | Kids' Choice Prize of $3,000 |
| Menengang | Cave Urban | Waverley Council Mayor's Choice |
| April, Cherry Blossoms | Koichi Ishino | Artistic excellence program donated by James and Leonie Furber $10,000 |
| Cluster | Ian Bonde | Dick Bett Memorial invitation of $5000 |
THE RECIPEIENTS FROM BONDI 2011
| Artwork name | Sculptor/s | Prize |
| Paradiegma Metaphysic | Paul Selwood | The Balnaves Foundation Sculpture Prize of $65,000 + Acquisitive |
| Comfort Zone | Alessandra Rossi | The Helen Lempriere Scholarship of $30,000 |
| Hokusai's Child | James Rogers | The Helen Lempriere Scholarship of $30,000 |
| The Ruin | Marcus Tatton | The Helen Lempriere Scholarship of $30,000 |
| Trinity | Ben Fasham | The Clitheroe Foundation Emerging Artists Mentor Program of $10,000 |
| The Library | James McCallum | The Clitheroe Foundation Emerging Artists Mentor Program of $10,000 |
| Spin 2010 | Tania Spencer | The Clitheroe Foundation Emerging Artists Mentor Program of $10,000 |
| The Yearning | Margarita Sampson | The Andrea Stretton Memorial Invitation |
| Who Left the Tap Running? | Simon McGrath | Sydney Water Environmental Prize of $10,000 |
| Descending the Mountain | Linda Bowden | Art Gallery of NSW Prize |
| The Nail | Clary Akon & Juan Pablo Pinto | The AGNSW Society Volunteer Task Force Site Specific Award of $4000 |
| Tortoise | Mark Swartz, Ruben Salomon & Charmaine Tung | The Damon Courtenay Memorial Young Sculptor's Prize |
| I Have Been Dreaming to Be a Tree... II | Byeong Doo Moon | The Allens People's Choice Prize |
| Horse & Rider | Stephen King | Sculpture Inside Curators' Prize |
| Look This Way | Ken Unsworth | NAB Kids' Choice Prize of $3,000 |
| James Rogers | NAB Kids' Choice Prize of $3,000 | Waverley Council Mayor's Choice |
THE RECIPIENTS FROM BONDI, 2006
| Name | Sculptor | Prize |
| ...And With a Name to Come | Orest Keywan | The Sculpture by the Sea Prize |
| Humbaba's Barrel | Marcus Tatton | Sydney Water Environmental Sculpture Prize |
| Archi Tekton | Daniela Turrin | Kodak Sculpture Prize |
| Cut to Fit | Emma Wise | Icebergs Dining Room and Bar Signature Prize |
| Obligato | James Rogers | The Sydney Morning Herald Represented Artist Prize |
| Icarus | Guy Warren | Art Gallery Society of NSW Prize |
| more/less | Ellie Nuss & James McDermid | Damon Courtenay Memorial Young Sculptor Prize |
| Open | Linda Bowden | The Australian Unrepresented Sculptor Award |
| Cypher | Konstantin Dimopoulos | Art Gallery Society of NSW Taskforce Site Specific Prize |
| Hot With a Chance of a Late Storm | The Glue Society | Allens Arthur Robinson People's Choice Prize NAB Kids' Choice Prize. |
Participants in the 2014 Sculpture by the Sea
Participants in the 2014 event included Alejandro Propato, Francesca Mataraga, Johannes Pannekoek and Marina DeBris.Participants 2015
This year the exhibition received 500 submissions, from 41 countries and 6 territories around the world, including Australia. Some of the participants include Louis Pratt, Vince Vozzo, Bronwyn Berman, Harrie Fasher, Barbara Licha, Mark McClelland, Sallie Portnoy, Paul Selwood and Margarita Sampson.Gallery
Sculpture by the Sea 2006:Cottesloe
In 2005, the first Sculpture by the Sea event was held at Cottesloe beach, Western Australia, overlooking the Indian Ocean. The exhibition showcased sculptures by Western Australia's leading and emerging sculptors, alongside works by invited interstate and international sculptors. This free annual public exhibition attracts approximately 100,000 visitors of all ages.Awards
The recipients from Cottesloe, 2014.| Artwork name | Sculptor/s | Prize |
| Like a Flower Swaying in the Wind | Hiroyuki Kita | Roy Hill Sculpture Prize of $50,000 |
| Overnight | Elaine Clocherty | NAB Western Australia Sculpture Scholarship of $10,000 |
| Overconsumption | Kerrie Argent | NAB Western Australia Sculpture Scholarship of $10,000 |
| Wave 1 | Annette Thas | The EY People's Choice Prize of $2,500 |
| Wave 1 | Annette Thas | Kid's Choice Prize |
| Permanent Sunset | Alejandro Propato | Kid's Choice Prize |
| Sea Breeze | Kochi Ishino | Sculpture Inside Curator's Award of $2,500 |
The recipients from Cottesloe, 2013.
| Artwork name | Sculptor/s | Prize |
| Tokyo Crows | Mikaela Casteldine | NAB Western Australian Sculpture Scholarship |
| Menengang | Cave Urban | Sculpture by the Sea People's Choice Prize of $2,500 |
| Happy Floating Dream Cloud | Kathy Allam | Experience Extraordinary Kid's Choice Prize of $1000 |
| Threshold 2 | Kevin Draper | Sculpture Inside Curator's Award of $2,500 |
The recipients from Cottesloe, 2012.
| Artwork name | Sculptor/s | Prize |
| Dump | Paul Caporn | NAB Western Australian Sculpture Scholarship |
| Belonging | Elaine Clocherty | Andrea Stretton Memorial Invitation |
| Meeting 1 | Wang Shugang | Sculpture by the Sea People's Choice Prize of $2,500 |
| Punctured Sky | Elin & Keino | NAB Kid's Choice Prize of $1000 |
| Salut | Michael Le Grand | Sculpture Inside Curator's Award of $1,500 |
The recipients from Cottesloe, 2011.
| Artwork name | Sculptor/s | Prize |
| Lifeboat | Marwa Fahmy, Stephen Genovese, Elizabeth Marpole, & Kate Parker | NAB Western Australian Sculpture Scholarship |
| Goshu | Peter Zappa | Andrea Stretton Memorial Invitation |
| Red Memory Smile | Chen Wenling | Sculpture by the Sea People's Choice Prize of $5000 |
| Red Memory Smile | Chen Wenling | NAB Kid's Choice Prize of $1000 |
| First Canto Early Fall | Orest Keywan | Sculpture Inside Curator's Award of $1000 |