Sydney artist Andrew Tomkins has won the 2023 Gallipoli Art Prize ($20 000 acquisitive prize auspiced by the Gallipoli Memorial Club) with his work ‘Ray’s Room’, a poignant work depicting his uncle’s room in his grandparent’s house. 

“As a child, Ray’s room was off limits. It was his space. Raymond Tomkins was a participant in the battle of Slaters Knoll, Bougainville in 1945.  He went away a young man but returned a very different person,” said artist Andrew Tomkins.

“It was always expected that personnel returning to civilian life from active duty ‘just got on with it’. More often than not, the only support came from each other. Ray did get on with it, leading a productive life and supporting fellow servicemen and their families.”

“In recent times, it has been recognized that the treatment of our returned service personnel is a national disgrace. The Royal Commission of 2022 is only the first step in finally providing the support that our veterans justly deserve.”

Read the full media release here

Exhibition
The 2023 Gallipoli Art Prize will be on exhibition at 6-8 Atherden Street, The Rocks, Sydney from 20 April to 14 May, 2023.

To view the works online visit www.gallipoliartprize.org.au