Artist wins cricket prize

Woy Woy artist Joseph Rolella is $20,000 richer after he won the 2011 Cricket Art Prize with his painting Cricket at Kandahar.

Just over 200 artists submitted a painting for the Cricket Art Prize competition, in which 40 finalists were selected.

Artists were asked to depict life in and around the game and sport of cricket, in settings of beach, backyard, street and local club cricket.

The painting, Cricket at Kandahar, a 120cm x 180cm oil painting of Australian soldiers playing cricket in front of a Black Hawk helicopter, was selected from 40 finalists as the winner of the third annual prize at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday, October 6.

Mr Rolella, 39, has been a finalist in the competition each year since the prize's inception in 2009.

Prize organiser Mr Derek Zilich said the judges chose his work for its themes of universality.

"Joseph's work was selected because it shows that whatever is happening in the world - war, peace - there's always a game of cricket going on somewhere...it represents something that transcends politics; something over and above the machinations of war.

"It's also a damn good painting," said Mr Zilich.

Rolella, who studied at the University of Western Sydney and has been painting professionally since the mid-90s, said he created the work with a big moment in mind.

"(Australia's involvement in) war-torn Afghanistan is very topical, and I wanted to use cricket as a way of representing that sense of unity," said Mr Rolella.

"I wanted to create something really dramatic.

"Cricket is a sport that brings people together.

"And I have a lot of respect for soldiers out there."

The award was Rolella's first big win as an artist, and he said it couldn't have come at a better time.

"Living off your art when you have a young family is not easy, especially in these times," he said.

"Winning just gives that little kick along; the feeling that, yes, you're on the right track."

Mr Rollela's works can be purchased at Aeon Arts in Sydney.

Press Release, 7 Oct 2011 Website, Cricket Art Prize