$20k Art Prize Winner Revealed To Be Copy Of Another Painter’s Work | 10 News

One of Queensland's most prestigious art awards has been rocked, after a winning piece was revealed to be an apparent copy of work by another painter. The judges didn't pick up on the blunder until a year after the artist received her paycheck. It's said art imitates life, but when art imitates other art, that can be a problem. As far as we're all concerned, it's a disgrace, and how can they do this to a voluntary organisation? Last year, Jane Allen entered this piece to the Doyle's Art Awards on the Gold Coast, claiming it as her own. It took out top prize, winning Jane $20,000. They represent myself and my brother when we were children, and how we were allowed to just spend the day exploring the beach, like many Australian children do. It's been sitting on display outside the Gold Coast Mayor's office, until a few days ago, when someone realised Jane's art looked exactly like another piece by the late Nicholas Harding. He would have been astonished that somebody just copied it so completely, really. I think most artists would think, well, that's not right. She didn't deny it. She burst into tears and didn't deny it. Jane's painting has been declared as ineligible. Now a legal battle is underway to try and reclaim the $20,000 prize. Every entrant who submits art for selection has to meet a criteria for originality. We take artists at their word. This scandal has changed the game for the committee who runs the Doyle's Art Awards competition. They're now looking at using reverse image search technology to ensure all of the entries are, in fact, original. If you've got the skill to do that, can't you think of something to paint for yourself? Tiani Reid, 10 News.