$20K Clarence Prize 2023 winner announced

In contrast to last year's sculptural chair by Ashley Eriksmoen, the winner of the biennial Clarence Prize was a highly crafted furniture piece with a mid-century Scandinavian feel. ‘I’m incredibly humbled to have been awarded the biennial Clarence Prize for Excellence in Furniture Design, for the Winslow armchair’, announced Hobart designer maker Patrick Adeney.

Detail of Winslow armchair in Tasmanian blackwood, Danish cord, brass and leather.

In the words of the organisers, Clarence Arts: ‘The prize recognises furniture design that demonstrates quality of aesthetic, craftsmanship, ingenuity in function and purpose, material considerations and sustainability.’ The Clarence Prize bills itself as Australia’s richest acquisitive prize – the winner receives $20,000 and their work becomes part of the Clarence Art Collection

The photo at the top shows Patrick Adeney seated on ‘a throwback to the first prototype of the chair’. ‘Since then, some refinements have been made to the chair and the inclusion of the footstool’, he said. The Winslow reflects a development in design themes recently explored in Adeney’s Mara bench and Arlo stools. ‘This chair and all the pieces that have preceded it I owe to the resources made available to me at Design Objects Tasmania, where I’ve been able to develop this work and produce it for ongoing sale’, said Patrick. (Design Objects Tasmania is an independent design collective.)

Happiness on exhibition opening night at Rosny Barn. Patrick Adeney is shown far right. Photo courtesy Duncan Meerding (centre, in the red cap), the designer maker of the 1500mm Propeller Bloom pendant light shown. 

Two further non-acquisitive prizes of $1,500 were awarded; one to Liam Starcevich for highly commended work and the other to Melvin Josy, emerging designer.

Currently the exhibition features work by shortlisted entrants Patrick Adeney, Elliot Bastianon, Simon Colabufalo, Ben Grieve-Johnson, Brandon Harrison, Jess Humpston, Mark Jones and Ellis Moseley, Melvin Josy, Adam Markowitz and Ruth Allen, Geoffrey Marshall, Duncan Meerding, Kevin Perkins and Belinda Winkler, Liam Starcevich, Tanya Singer and Trent Jansen.

The exhibition continues until 15 October 2023 at The Barn at Rosny Farm, Rosny Hill Road, Rosny Park, Tasmania 7018.