These were the matters of the heart, and of art, that piqued the interest of Goulburn Art Awards 2018 guest judge David Broker, director of the Canberra Contemporary Art Space.

Trinity College Year 12 student Cooper Pearce was named young artist of the year for 2018 with his felt-tip drawing, An elephant never forgets.

The artfully sketched skeletal pachyderm shows a hide that’s not so thick, but rather vulnerable to a modern state of environmental exploitation.

Mittagong photographer Mark Kelly was named artist of the year in the open section as one of 58 artists vying for the title at the Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, for Ghosts of the past.

Kelly, delighted to win, said the image was the result of patient experimentation with the form.

Birte Larsen was highly commended in the open section for Grey matter III, her muted working of wood and cement into a sizeable wall hanging of imposing geometrical design.

Goulburn Mulwaree mayor Bob Kirk opened the exhibition on Friday, April 20 (now showing weekdays 10am to 5pm, and Saturday 1pm to 4pm – free entry) alongside gallery director Gina Mobayed, followed by Mr Broker’s announcement of the winners.

The Goulburn Post will soon feature the winning artists in personal profiles.