Held every two years, the Arthur Guy Memorial Painting Prize is designed to attract some of Australia’s finest contemporary artists from across the country, awarding a generous acquisitive cash prize of $50,000.

This exhibition of finalists work, selected from over 400 entries from across Australia, showcases the dynamism and diversity of contemporary painting practice today. The winning work joins the Gallery’s permanent collection.

The Prize was initiated by Mr Allen Guy CBE (1917-2007) to honour his brother Arthur Guy (1914-1945) whose life was tragically cut short whilst in service in New Guinea. Arthur Guy was born in Melbourne on 24 November 1914, the first son for Arthur and Catherine Guy. He was the only and elder sibling of Allen Rupert Guy. Arthur was educated at Camp Hill State School in Bendigo and then at Ballarat Grammar School. He enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in a signals unit and served in New Guinea. On 14 February 1945, aged 30, he was on a biscuit bomber mission when his plane was shot down near Wewak. He is buried in the Lae War Memorial Cemetery.

Winner

Jahnne Pasco-White for her work messmates 1

Jahnne Pasco-White, messmates 1 2019, various. Courtesy the artist and Daine Singer, Melbourne

The 2019 finalists are: