News
9 July, 2025
Hair and linen wins art prize
Moreton Bay artist Blair Garland has been awarded the Moreton Bay Art Prize 2025 for her deeply personal and thought-provoking artwork titled 'Flesh and Blood' (2025).
Blair’s winning work explores themes of identity, memory, and transformation through the lens of menopause.
In 'Flesh and Blood', she repurposes bed linen, scarves, dresses and her own hair collected during her transition through menopause. These symbolic materials offer a visceral and tangible connection to Garland’s past and present self, examining ageing and womanhood with raw honesty and artistic sophistication.
Mayor Peter Flannery said the 42 shortlisted artists highlighted the scope of creative talent across Moreton Bay. He said the Moreton Bay Art Prize recognises the outstanding artistic abilities of the local community and that the council is proud to support local artists by providing the opportunity to exhibit their work, connect with new audiences, and take away $10,000 in prize money. He said this year’s exhibition is a rich showcase of the stories, cultures, and contemporary practices that shape the city.
Blair Garland said the work was part of a long-term exploration of her lived experience. She said that throughout the last five years she had been creating a series of artworks exploring her life as a menopausal woman, reflecting on 38 years of fertility coming to an end.
Second place was awarded to Michelle Spencer for 'Where Did She Go?' (2025), and Rachel South took out third place for 'Basilea' (2024).
The Moreton Bay Art Prize will be on display at Pine Rivers Art Gallery until July 19, 2025.
