ADELAIDE.- The world’s richest landscape art prize, The Fleurieu Art Prize has been awarded to Tony Albert for his work, The Hand You’re Dealt.

The prestigious landscape prize, valued at $65,000 was announced, alongside the collection of 57 finalist works, at the 2016 Fleurieu Art Prize Exhibition launch, at the University of South Australia’s Anne & Gordon Samstag Museum of Art in Adelaide.

Returning international judge, Nigel Hurst, Director of London’s Saatchi Gallery, led this year’s judging panel.

“The Fleurieu Art Prize is testament to the growing importance of the Prize, with so many significant artists entering this year,” Hurst says.

“We chose Tony Albert’s work for its deft and playful, yet considered interpretation of his homeland. His use of something so every day as playing cards to create this exquisite, visually arresting and pertinent work exemplifies the skill and talent of this deserving Fleurieu Art Prize winner.”

Erica Green, Director of Anne & Gordon Samstag Museum of Art described Tony Albert as a most worthy winner.

“We’re especially pleased to award this prize to an indigenous artist during National Reconciliation Week 2016,” Green says.

Tony Albert’s winning work The Hand You’re Dealt is a wall piece comprised of a suite of vintage playing cards, whose placement weaves references to Western popular culture and Australian Aboriginal culture.

These intricate pieces which comprise the overall installation are superbly crafted by Albert through cutting, collage and construction techniques, work to displace traditional Australian Aboriginal aesthetics and accepted national stereotypes. This seamless blend of the kitsch and classic speaks in a contemporary voice about the Australian landscape.

Tony Albert has exhibited his work at many international venues, including the Musée d’Aquitaine, Bordeaux, France; the Singapore Art Museum; the National Museum of China, Beijing; and the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Israel. He was also included in the 10th Biennial of Havana, Cuba, and the 2014 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art, Dark Heart.

Over 750 entries were received for this year’s Fleurieu Art prize, with the 58 shortlisted works judged by Nigel Hurst, Erica Green, and Suhanya Raffel, Deputy Director and Director of Collections, Art gallery of New South Wales.

These works will be on display at the Samstag Museum of Art from June 3 – July 29. This year marks the Prize’s relocation from the Fleurieu Peninsula and presented in the city for the first time at the Samstag Museum of Art in Adelaide.