Australian glassblower Peter Bowles has been awarded the 2025 Tom Malone Glass Art Prize. The 23-year-old annual award recognizes the most important work in glass by an Australian or New Zealand artist. As part of the prize, Bowles's work is on exhibit through April 6, 2026, at Linton & Kay Galleries location in Cottesloe, Australia, along with the other 23 short-listed artists. Bowles has been a frequent finalist for major glass prizes, and he currently lives and works from his studio in Northern Tasmania. The longest-running Australian contemporary art prize that includes buying the work, the Tom Malone Glass Art Prize provides $20,000 (roughly $14,000 in USD) as well as the exhibition of the winning artwork first at Linton & Kay before moving into its final home at a state art institution.
"These innovative, dynamic works not only reflect the vitality of contemporary glass practiced around Australia but reaffirm the enduring and esteemed legacy of the Tom Malone Glass Art Prize," reads the award announcement.
The full short-list of finalists who will be included in the inital exhibiton include: Ruth Allen, Clare Belfrage, Giles Bettison, Annette Blair, Peter Bowles, Lisa Cahill, Scott Chaseling, Anne Clifton, Erin Conron, Billy Crellin, Dr Mel Douglas, Amanda Dziedzic, Edols & Elliott, Cheryl Edwards, Hannah Gregory, Marcel Hoogstad Hay, Kristin McFarlane, Nick Mount, Nada Murphy, Catherine Newton, Brenda Page, Drew Spangenberg, Jarred Wright
The Tom Malone Glass Art Prize, Australia’s longest-running acquisitive award for contemporary glass, grants $20,000 to the winning artist. Established in 2003 by Elizabeth Malone, Governor of the Art Gallery of Western Australia Foundation, it has been generously supported by Foundation Benefactor Sheryl Grimwood since 2018.
This year's jury for the award included American glassblower Dante Marioni, former director of The Art Gallery of Western Australia Dr. Stefano Carboni, and Dr Robert Cook, who is currently the Curator of Contemporary Art at The Art Gallery of Western Australia.
Visit the exhibition Website to see all the finalists work.