Honours for local artist

ARTIST Thomas Delohery is off to a flying start for 2025 after being accepted into two major art prizes for the first time.

Irish-born Delohery graduated in Fine Arts at Ulster University Belfast in 1997.

He moved to Australia in 2010 on a Distinguished Talent Visa and has taught visual arts at several schools in Victoria.

“The first prize I was accepted into this year was the Collie Art Prize in Western Australia,” he said. “It is one of Australia’s richest art prizes.

“This year the theme was identity and I was selected with my painting of Australian performance artist Stelarc.

“Stelarc is known for getting an ear implanted into one of his arms as part of his art practice.

“The second prize I was accepted into is The Maldon Art Prize in Victoria. I painted actor Anthony La Paglia.

“He was delighted when he heard my painting was accepted. After he sat for me, I offered him one of the early sketches I had done of him.

“At first, he said he didn’t accept gifts but when he saw it, he said, ‘I want that’ and posted it on his Instagram page. It was a great compliment.

“Working with him was an absolute hoot; he has a real boyish charm.”

Delohery said just to be accepted for consideration in the awards was a huge honour.

“I feel very fortunate. I would have liked to travel to Perth for the Collie Art Prize but the cost was prohibitive,” he said.

“But I will be attending the opening of the Maldon Art Prize on 7 June and am looking forward to meeting the other artists.”

Delohery moved to Ballarat from East Bentleigh five years ago. “It was a good move,” he said.

“Everyone is so open and friendly, and we know all our neighbours.”

Delohery lives with his wife, Sandra Minchin Delohery, a performance artist, and their two rescue dogs. “They were eight-year-old siblings when we saw them at the shelter. Most people want puppies, but we wanted to give these seniors a chance,” he said.