Sean Henry, Seated Man, Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe 2024. Photo Richard Watson
Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe announced today that Sean Henry is the recipient of the EY People’s Choice Award for his sculpture “Seated Man”. English sculptor Sean Henry received the EY People’s Choice Award of $5,000 after visitors to Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe voted his artwork as their favourite out of more than 70 artworks by Australian and international artists.
Sean Henry said: “I am very honoured to have won the People’s Choice Award and I’m glad that my ‘Seated Man’ sculpture connected so directly with the community of Cottesloe and Perth. The proximity of the ocean and the ever-changing light give the exhibition a unique theatricality, and it has been a very memorable experience to visit and be part of this year’s Sculpture by the Sea.”
Sean Henry is one of England’s most celebrated artists, and this is his first time exhibiting in WA. He has had more than 35 solo shows during his career. In 1998 he was the first sculptor to receive the Villiers David Prize, and his work is regularly exhibited by galleries in the UK, USA, Sweden, Norway, Belgium and Germany.
Fiona Drummond, EY Managing Partner for the Western Region, congratulated artist Sean Henry on winning the 2024 EY People’s Choice Award. In admiration of his incredible piece, “Seated Man”, Fiona described it as a true work of art, interactive, detailed, lifelike and clearly a stand-out piece for the residents of Perth and visitors from across Australia.
Fiona Drummond said: “This year, the significant role of the arts in our society and community has been particularly evident, as tens of thousands of people have come to support both local and international artists at Cottesloe Beach. EY takes great pride in supporting this extraordinary event for the past decade.”
COADY, ‘Dave’, Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe 2024. Michael Goh
It was also announced today that Australian artist COADY is the recipient of the Kids’ Choice Prize of $2,000 for their artwork ‘Dave”. The Kid’s Choice is donated by Rebel Penfold-Russell OAM, Emrys & Jasper.
COADY said: “I am truly overwhelmed and deeply grateful to be receiving the Kid’s Choice Award. To all the young hearts who cast their votes and saw something special in “Dave,” I cannot thank you enough. Your support and appreciation mean the world to me. Winning the Kids’ Choice Award is not just an accolade; it’s a testament to the power of art to captivate and inspire young minds. Your enthusiasm and support reaffirm my belief in the importance of creating art that resonates across generations and sparks joy in the hearts of all who encounter it.”
David Handley, the Founding CEO and Artistic Director of Sculpture by the Sea, said, “Thank you to the artists, the people of Perth and everyone who made this year’s exhibition such a special 20th anniversary celebration. Congratulations to Sean Henry for receiving the EY People’s Choice Award and COADY for the Kids Choice.”
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe. The exhibition opened on 1 March and finishes on Monday 18 March. Over 70 sculptures were selected for this year’s exhibition, with artists from 14 countries participating in the much-loved annual event. Since 2005, 1,298 sculptures by nearly 600 artists from 44 countries have been viewed by an estimated 3.5 million visitors from across Perth and all over the world.