Broken Hill City Art Gallery welcomed more than 250 guests on Friday 15 August for the opening of the 2025 Pro Hart Outback Art Prize (PHOAP). Dignitaries, artists and community members joined to celebrate 50 finalist works drawn from across Australia, including local artists David Doyle, Kelly Leonard and Krystle Evans.
About the Pro Hart Outback Art Prize
The Pro Hart Outback Art Prize is Broken Hill City Art Gallery's largest and most anticipated exhibition each year. Proudly supported by the Hart family in honour of the late Pro Hart and his extraordinary contribution to regional arts, the $20,000 acquisitive prize champions contemporary art that reflects the spirit, beauty and complexity of the outback.
Open to artists nationwide and in any medium, the prize continues the Gallery's long tradition of collecting and presenting the art of our time while elevating regional voices on a national stage.
2025 Guest Judge - Brett Adlington
The Broken Hill City Art Gallery was delighted to welcome Brett Adlington, Chief Executive Officer, Museums & Galleries of NSW, as guest judge for 2025. With 25+ years across regional and metropolitan galleries, including curatorial roles at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery (Townsville), Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery, and Gold Coast City Art Gallery (now HOTA), Brett brings deep expertise and a national perspective.
As Director of Lismore Regional Gallery (2010–2021) he led a major transformation culminating in a new purpose-built cultural facility and stronger community engagement. Since 2021, as CEO of M&G NSW, he has advocated for regional arts, access and professional development across the sector. He holds a Bachelor of Visual Arts and a Graduate Diploma in Arts and Cultural Management and has served as President and Vice President of Regional & Public Galleries of NSW.
Winner – Krystle Evans
The acquisitive prize was awarded to local artist Krystle Evans for her contemporary textile work Not so wild west.
Brett Adlington spoke of his decision:
"In considering the winner for this award, I was conscious of selecting a work that is speaking to the concerns of now. A work that would sit strongly within the collection of Broken Hill City Art Gallery and continue this great tradition of reflecting the art of our time. For me, Krystle Evans' work Not so wild west offers a unique perspective on the outback and one that digs a bit deeper into the psyche of this place – beyond a simple representation of it."
Adlington emphasised the importance of prizes like PHOAP in shaping artistic practice:
"I was conscious of this work entering a permanent and important collection, a work that will continue to resonate in years to come, sitting alongside other pieces and speaking to the issues of today. Krystle's work offered a fresh look at what it means to live in the outback, a slightly surprising, yet deeply compelling acquisition for the Gallery."
Evans described her winning piece as a satirical and feminist reflection on Broken Hill's identity:
"I was very inspired by where I live. We talk about it being the Wild West out here, but in a contemporary context it's perhaps not so wild anymore. Not so wild west feminises the idea of the West and its men, playing with humour, reclaimed colonial fabrics, and a tongue-in-cheek nod to gender politics old and new."
Not so wild west was created with fabric, paint, wool, thread, doilies, felt, bailing twine, buttons, tulle, rope and lace, measuring 150 x 150cm.
Gallery & Museum Manager, Kathy Graham, added:
"We are proud to welcome Krystle Evans' Not so wild west into the Broken Hill City Art Gallery Collection. The Pro Hart Outback Art Prize is an acquisitive award, ensuring that works which speak powerfully to our time become part of the city's cultural legacy. Krystle's contemporary textile piece brings a bold, witty and deeply local perspective to the outback. It is a work that challenges, surprises, and will continue to resonate with audiences for years to come."
Second Prize – Chris Byrnes
Chris Byrnes was awarded Second Prize ($2,000) for The distance between the layers 1 (Experimental photography, 66 x 77cm).
The work navigates "the physical distance between Central Australia and my home on the east coast," continuing Byrnes' research into the photographic image, its place within contemporary art and its connection to people and practice.
Adlington praised the piece as one "he kept coming back to," highlighting its dark and brooding presence, surprising use of medium, and the way the artist's drawing practice carries through into the work.
Highly Commended – Hans Romeyn
Adlington also awarded a Highly Commended recognition to Hans Romeyn for 40k's out (Acrylic on canvas, 122 x 122cm). Romeyn reflected:
"My first road trip to Broken Hill left an indelible mark on my artistic vision. I was struck by the vast, sun-scorched landscape, its mirage-like horizons, rich colours, and harsh beauty. In this piece, I've tried to capture that essence, the heat, the silence, the shimmer, and translate it into a visual experience that invites the viewer into that remote and powerful terrain."
Exhibition Open
The Pro Hart Outback Art Prize 2025 exhibition is now open at Broken Hill City Art Gallery until 2 November 2025. The exhibition showcases the strength and diversity of contemporary practice from across Australia, with works in painting, photography, sculpture, textiles, and mixed media.
