Christopher Wright's water-colour of the old Oamaru Hospital wowed the judges, who likened the "wonderful flat, stacked composition" of his painting of the hill-top hospital to Lowry's renowned depictions of Lancashire's industrial buildings.
Denise L'Estrange-Corbet, of WORLD fashion house, said she had been "enthralled" by Mr Wright's work.
"It is a wonderful painting.
"I studied each part of it up close. It reminded me of a Lowry. Its attention to detail [was] exceptional.
"The colours were all so real and beautiful. It was done with such intense precision," she said.
Mr Wright, who is autistic, received a prize of $2000 for second place.
His painting was sold in a silent auction in Wellington along with 30 other entries on Thursday evening.
IHC national communications manager Paula McArthur said the art awards were intended to recognise the talents of people in IHC services.
"It's a great expression of how people see the world around them. We do it just to highlight the fact that there is all that great art out there and get some recognition for the artists as well.
"It's not art therapy, it's art."
First prize went to Vincent Van Schalkwyk, of Te Awamutu, for his painting of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
