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Mambo artist's daughter's Whiteley prize

Lucy O'Doherty, daughter of Mambo cartoonist Reg Mombassa, is off to Paris after winning this year's Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship.

Lucy O'Doherty
Sydney artist Lucy O'Doherty has won the 2016 Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship. (AAP)

Sydney artist Lucy O'Doherty, daughter of Mambo artist Reg Mombassa, is off to Paris after winning the 2016 Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship.

The 30-year-old was awarded the prize for her painting Shack at Little Garie in Sydney on Thursday.

Ms O'Doherty said she couldn't believe she had won the three-month residency at Cite Internationale des Arts in Paris with a $30,000 art education grant.

"It's hard to believe it's happening," she said.

"It's a great opportunity to push myself into doing something new."

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Mombassa (real name Chris O'Doherty), known for his Mambo clothing art, said he was very proud of his daughter.

"It's a fantastic encouragement for her and it will be great for her to be able to go to Europe and not have to worry about earning a living."

Mr O'Doherty, who said he didn't offer any advice on his daughter's artworks, acknowledged the difficulties for young artists with successful parents.

"It's handy that I have a stupid fake name, people don't often make the connection," he said.

The annual scholarship was established in 1999 by Beryl Whiteley, the mother of late artist Brett Whiteley, and is open for Australian painters aged between 20 and 30.

Ms O'Doherty was selected from seven finalists, whittled down from 91 entrants, by guest judge Tom Carment.

"Lucy's work shows a level of maturity and qualities of perseverance which I think will serve her well when she goes to Europe," Mr Carment said.


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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