The displayed works were selected by judges Simon Palenski, Justin Spiers and Scott Eady, from among 430 nationwide entries across three categories, many attracted by the awards’ $15,500 prize money.
The categories cover 2D and 3D media, giving a full range of creative expression to contributing artists.
OAS committee members Anne Baldock, Jenny Longstaff and Tash Hurst said months of planning and weeks of preparations had gone into creating the exhibition, including many hours spent hanging the 2D works, including paintings and photography, and displaying those in 3D, including sculptures, ceramics and jewellery.
Longstaff said the judges had been diligent in their work, visiting the exhibition several times to make their final selections of prize-winners.
Along with category winner prizes of $1000 each, and a junior section prize of $1000, the supreme award winner receives $9000.
"It’s a big job to judge such important awards, and we are very grateful to our judges for their efforts," she said.
All of the artworks exhibited in the exhibition are for sale, with prices ranging from $100 to $13,500, with the Otago Art Society receiving a commission on sales.
"It is vital for us to have those commissions, which help to keep the art society afloat — it is expensive for us to be here in the Dunedin Railway Station," Baldock said.
"We really need the public’s support to make this exhibition a success."
The Cleveland National Art Awards exhibition will be open to the public daily, from 10am-4pm, from this Saturday until June 3, upstairs at the railway station.
