GWOBR GELF  OSI RHYS  OSMOND ART PRIZE

In 2019 a prize was established in memory of Osi Rhys Osmond. This annual competition is run in conjunction with the Carmarthen School of Art where Osi had been a charismatic tutor and Head of Foundation studies between 1988 and 1996

Foundation for Life video compilation  2025 (11.57 mins) Reflections of Art + Design Foundation Course past students, many taught by Osi Rhys Osmond at Carmarthen School of Art in west Wales  https://vimeo.com/1051629499

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2025

A full Llansteffan Memorial Hall celebrated the sixth Osi Rhys Osmond Art Prize at a presentation evening on 28th June. The winner was Angharad van Rijswijk, a student on the Foundation Course at Carmarthen School of Art. In addition to the prize money of £200, she received a copy of the book “Encounters with Osi” and a unique piece of sculptural glass made by Rodney Bender and generously sponsored by Ali Anwar of the H’mm Foundation. Angharad’s work will be on display in Oriel Osi for the month of July.

Since 2024 the competition has been based on the work exhibited by the Foundation Year students at their end of year exhibition. The judges, Julia Griffiths Jones and Luke Osmond, selected eight works of great variety and all eight students attended the presentation.

A video showing the work, much of which was 3D or contained moving images was projected during the evening.

A further highlight was a vocal performance by jazz singer Kim Osmond which inspired members of the audience to leap to their feet and dance.

The popular winner of the People’s Choice, chosen by the audience was Eiry Thomas.

The organisers are grateful to this years Patron, Christine Kinsey, artist and co-founder of Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff, for sponsoring the raffle. The winner of the framed single copy print of a painting by Osi was Kay Anthony of Llansteffan.

Photo credit : Siân Lewis, Huw Iorwerth

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2024

From a shortlist of eight, the popular winner of the fifth Osi Rhys Osmond Art Prize 2024, announced during a presentation evening at Llansteffan Memorial Hall, was Will Matthews. Will, from Llandeilo, is a student on the Foundation Course at Carmarthen School of Art.

Along with the main prize awarded by the two judges, Julia Griffiths Jones and Luke Osmond, Will also won the People’s Choice prize voted for by the large, enthusiastic audience present during the evening. In addition to the prize money Will was presented with the book ‘Encounters with Osi’ and a glass trophy generously donated by Ali Anwar of the Hmm Foundation. Huw Iorwerth seamlessly compèred the evening and James Hancock Evans set the mood with light jazz on the keyboard. Gratitude to Simon Thirsk, this year’s kind sponsor.

Will’s winning painting is on display at the Oriel Osi Gallery in Llansteffan until the end of July.

Work by the eight nominated students on the Foundation Course at Carmarthen School of Art can be seen in this Instagram link @carmarthenschoolofart

Will Matthews Artist Statement 

“The fight to achieve a painting and the real risk that it’s going to fall to bits. . . seems to be an essential part of trying to do something that has the excitement and experience of the landscape itself.” – David Tress

Often working on-site, Will has been heavily influenced by his surroundings to create a series of works that encapsulate the natural beauty and the sublime of his local area. In an age of atrophy in the natural world, his work appreciates what we’re lucky enough to have right at our feet. For him the landscape is a place to escape to and recharge, not something to be taken for granted.

Yn aml yn gweithio ar-safle, cafodd Will el dylanwadu’n dwm gan ei amgylchoedd i gre cyfres o weithiau sy’n crynhoir harddwch naturiol a’r aruchel yn ei ardal leol. Mewn oes o edwino yn y byd naturiol, mae ei waith yn gwerthfawrogir hyn rydyn ni’n digon ffodus i gael fan hyn with ein traed. Iddo ef mae’r dirwedd yn lle i ddian iddi ac i fagu nerth newydd, nid rhywbeth i gymryd yn ganiataol.

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2023

GWOBR GELF OSI RHYS OSMOND ART PRIZE 

The 2023 Osi Rhys Osmond Art Prize was celebrated in style on Friday, June 30th at the Llansteffan Memorial Hall. Nathan Osmond was the M.C. and Julia Griffiths Jones and Luke Osmond the judges. The prizes were presented by Che Osmond. John Edwards and Kamaruddin Mukri donated the raffle print and drew the winning ticket. The musical interludes were beautifully provided by Siobhan Eleri and James Hancock-Evans.

Chelsea Reilly and Daniel Jones, both on the BA (Hons) Fine Art:Sculpture course, were winners for their cast metal sculptures. The joint winners received £200; a copy of either the book Encounters with Osi or the volume Cultural Alzheimer’s and other essays; and an opportunity for their work to be displayed at Oriel Osi, Llansteffan until the end of July. In addition, the winners were given a glass trophy each, donated by Ali Anwar of the H’mm Foundation and presented to them by renowned glass artist Rodney Bender.

Heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make the evening such a success and to Llansteffan Memorial Hall council for their continuing support. Extra special thanks to Huw and Dr Ann Iorwerth. A wonderful evening was had by all.

The theme chosen for 2023 was Cultural Alzheimer’s, a phrase coined by Osi Rhys Osmond in a critical analysis of Welsh culture. This is the subject of the first essay in the book of the same name in which the author asserts: One of the principle causes of our cultural Alzheimer’s is our internal estrangement – we don’t know our own country, our history, or the other language.

Students were asked to explore the modern phenomenon of the dislocation of individuals, peoples and communities from their culture, language, traditions and rituals…to consider aspects of the causes, passage, trajectory and effects of this dislocation. The art work, 2D or 3D, was informed by research into Osi Rhys Osmond’s practice. View the catalogue here.

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2022

GWOBR GELF OSI RHYS OSMOND ART PRIZE

The third Osi Rhys Osmond Art Prize was a truly wonderful success. An inspiring, joyful and poignant evening, brilliantly led by MC Luke Osmond, Osi’s younger son, on Friday July 1st at the Memorial Hall, Llansteffan. Heartfelt thanks to everyone involved, with extra special thanks to Huw and Dr Ann Iorwerth. Gratitude to Dr Chris John, this years Patron.

A stunning live music set was performed by Jobe and Olivia Bruzas (members of Osi’s family)

A book launch of Osi’s essays also took place. Ali Anwar presented ‘Cultural Alzheimer’s and other essays’ published by the H’mm Foundation. The book is now on sale at Oriel Osi for £12.

The winner of the ORO Art Prize this year is Chelsea Reilly for ‘My mind map, a neurological underpinning’ a hand paper-cut illustration. The prize was later presented to Chelsea by Hilary Rhys Osmond, Osi’s wife at Oriel Osi on 4th July. The entries by students of the Carmarthen School of Art will be exhibited in Oriel Osi on The Square, Llansteffan for the month of July. Link here to the catalogue ORO Art Prize 2022 Catalogue

Panel of judges : Luke Osmond, Julia Griffiths Jones

To mark the eightieth anniversary of Osi’s birth, a special piece of Venetian sculptural glass was commissioned by Ali Anwar, CEO of the H’mm Foundation. The photo shows Ali presenting the glass to Chelsea Reilly at Oriel Osi in Llansteffan.

The theme chosen for the 2022 competition was “We talk, think, dream and stare” which is a line taken from a poem by Osi titled Correspondence, reproduced below.

Correspondence

I cherish those unconsidered moments

When we find ourselves unaware

Between things

Times of completion or of waiting

Rising, dressing, gathering, resting

We pause in disregarded places

Posed in unexpected correspondence

Irregular, tangential

Sitting, lying, walking

Strangely unaligned for customary communicate

Then, unconsciously between each other

But as one

We talk, think, dream and stare

The world seems vacated

There is no beginning and no end

Time has vanished

There is only us

And we, are one.

Osi Rhys Osmond

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2021

GWOBR GELF OSI RHYS OSMOND ART PRIZE

Ar Awyr Le / My Brief Eternity, the 2021 competition theme was available to students submitting a drawing, painting or 3D object.

Hosted at Oriel Osi, Llansteffan on 4th July 2021…a joyful bijou celebration took place at the gallery where the works of the 6 shortlisted entries were exhibited for the month of July.

The winner this year was Siân Barlow from Pontyberem, who recently graduated from the college with a First Class Honours degree in Fine Art. The prize was presented to Siân by Hilary Rhys Osmond at Oriel Osi in Llansteffan where the short listed works were exhibited.

Exhibitors included Siân Barlow, Angharad Caines, Valerie Beadle, Angela James, Carol Jones Hovey, Cerys Anne Williams.

The raffle prize, a high quality single edition framed print of a seascape watercolour painting by Osi was selected by this year’s patron Ann Oosthuizen.

Panel of judges : Luke Osmond, Julia Griffiths Jones, Paula Phillips Davies

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2019

GWOBR GELF OSI RHYS OSMOND ART PRIZE 

The competition in 2019 was for a drawing or painting on the theme Y Filltir Sgwar / Your Own Patch, a subject dear to Osi’s heart.

Hosted at llansteffan Memorial Hall on 28th June 2019…The winner this year was Megan Anwen Scales. The prize was presented to Megan by Luke Osmond, Osi’s son. The 6 shortlisted artworks were then exhibited at Oriel Osi, Llansteffan for the month of July.

‘Fantastic evening for the inaugural Osi Rhys Osmond Art Prize 2019. Thanks to all that helped to make this happen, what a great exhibition and event. Congratulations to the winner Megan Anwen Scales.’

‘Noson wych ar gyfer Gwobr Gelf gyntaf Osi Rhys Osmond 2019. Diolch i bawb a helpodd i wneud i hyn ddigwydd, beth yw arddangosfa a digwyddiad gwych. Llongyfarchiadau mawr i’r enillydd Megan Anwen Scales.’

Panel of judges : Luke Osmond, Julia Griffiths Jones, Carol Gwizdak and Paula Phillips Davies