FREMANTLE’S Susan Flavell has won an art award for her outré sculpture The Shimmer—a pudgy beast with a viper tail.

Flavell described the two-metre papier mâché animal as an “unreal creature of the imagination, implausible in its shape and identity”. She won a bank-sponsored people’s choice award and handed $5000 to purchase art materials.

Flavell, who lectures in sculpture at Central TAFE, was delighted to win.

• Susan Flavell with part of The Shimmer. Photo supplied

It is the first time the competition, established in 2001, has accepted 3D works. The bank’s art curator Sandra Murray says a record number of votes was cast by the public.

“I know many colleagues will miss its presence when the exhibition ends in March,” she says. “I do also hope the work finds a home as it is currently for sale and too large to return to Susan’s studio!” The competition is exclusive to WA artists.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK