Otago Art Society president and awards organiser Rose Shepard said 540 artworks were submitted for the two-yearly awards, and 220 of them were selected for the national exhibition at the Dunedin Railway Station which started at the weekend.
"That is the highest number ever, for the Cleveland Awards, so that’s really amazing.
"And I think the quality in this exhibition is one of the best I’ve seen — the works are stunning."
There had been a particularly strong increase in the number of young artists entering, she said.
"That means the future of art in New Zealand is in very good shape.
"The standard of their work was very high in this exhibition. I’m very impressed with the work."
The awards were judged by Gore District Council Arts and Heritage Department head Jim Geddes and Eastern Southland Gallery programmes officer and artist Marcella Geddes, who had the difficult job of deciding which artists to award $18,000 worth of prizes to.
This year’s Supreme Award (worth $10,000) and Category 1 Excellence Award (worth $1000) was won by Dean Raybould, of Oamaru, with his painting and 2D media artwork, titled gHosttrunk.
The People’s Choice Award winner will be announced at the close of the exhibition.
The exhibition runs at the Dunedin Railway Station until April 26.
Other awards: Category 1 Merit Award (painting, 2D media): Edwards + Johann, Geomorphic Act — Diptych; Category 2 Excellence printmaking, photography, digital graphics: Mark Graver, Broad Bay 1; Category 2 Merit Award printmaking, photography, digital graphics: Peter McLaren, Scorched Earth; Category 3 Excellence Award 3D media, sculpture, jewellery: Innocenza Toritto, Odd Boxed Memories; Category 3 Merit Award 3D media, sculpture, jewellery: Jerry Howlett, Earthform VI — Learning to Reworld on a Damaged Planet; Category 4 Excellence Award textile, embroidery, stitch: Samantha Sutherland, Secret Beach Te Puru; Category 4 Merit Award textile, embroidery, stitch: Ruth Tansley, Moonlight Tops — Paparoa Range; Young Artist Award: Joel Potter, The After Image/Ghost.
