ANU graduate wins Portia Geach Memorial Award

A graduate of the ANU School of Art, Kate Stevens, has won the $18,000 Portia Geach Memorial Award.

The award, which this year was based on the the theme of "painted from life of some man or woman distinguished in Art, Letters and Sciences", is recognised as Australia's most presitgious female art prize.

The artist's winning portrait, Indian Dreaming, is of artist and filmmaker Willy Bernadoff. The work is based on Bernadoff's photographs from travelling in India and streetscapes that Stevens recalls from her experiences in travelling Nepal.

Indian Dreaming was selected from 52 finalists. This is the second time that Stevens has been a finalist in the Portia Geach Memorial Award.

Stevens graduated from the School of Art in 2011 where she majored in painting and graduated with first-class Honours.

The best entries for the award are on show at the S. H. Ervin Gallery in Sydney until November 6.