Ayako Saito, ‘Lunar Shadow (2019)’, Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe 2023. Photo Jessica Wyld
Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe, has officially opened for its 19th year, with artist Ayako Saito receiving the coveted Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe Artist Award of $30,000 for her work Lunar Shadow.
Ayako Saito was born in Tokyo, Japan and studied art in Tamagawa University, Tokyo and she came to Australia in 2002. Her large outdoor sculptures have been exhibited at Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi eight times since 2008, appeared at Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe in 2014 and in the Western Sydney University Sculpture Award and Exhibition, Campbelltown, NSW. Her larger works have been exhibited at: Sydney Harbour Sculpture, Sydney; Hillview Sculpture Biennial, Sutton Forrest, NSW; Artisans in the Garden at the Botanic Gardens, Sydney; Sculpture on the Greens, Wyong, NSW and Sculpture at Sawmillers, Sydney.
The Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe Artist Award of $30,000, donated by the Minderoo Foundation, aims to increase opportunities for artists, is judged on excellence and is open to all artworks in the exhibition.
Minderoo Foundation, Director Arts & Culture, Ella McNeill said, “Minderoo’s support for the Cottesloe Artist Prize over the last 3 years has helped contribute to the success of Sculpture by the Sea, and most importantly to the careers of the exceptional artists it exhibits. We’re delighted to congratulate this year’s recipient, Ayako Saito, for her amazing work ‘Lunar Shadow’. We hope the WA community will once again enjoy engaging with art on this magical stretch of our coast.”
Sculpture by the Sea Founding CEO & Artistic Director, David Handley said, “Thank you to Minderoo for their continued support of Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe and our congratulations to Ayako.”
The Award recipient was selected by a judging panel of leading figures in the visual arts – Johannes Pannekoek, Artist, from Perth, Soula Veyradier the Manager of Gallery and Programs, School of Art and Design, North Metropolitan TAFE and Michael Le Grand Artist and former Head of Sculpture at the Australian National University.