Alfred Lowe

Wynne Prize (2025) Finalist, Art Gallery of New South Wales

"Lone dancer" was the largest work made to date in Alfred Lowe’s ongoing series All dressed up, measuring 122 x 80 x 80 cm. A self-taught artist working through the APY Art Centre Collective’s Tarntanya/Adelaide studio, Lowe is interested in investigating themes of beauty and the human pursuit of perfection. His work compares idealised self-presentation to imperfections found in the natural world. ‘We try to present ourselves to the world as flawless, but when you look at the natural world like the mountains in Central Australia, it is the flaws that create beauty,’ explains Lowe.

Bold, colourful and unapologetically expressive, Lone dancer commands attention. Lowe considers the work to be joyfully defiant of perfection. ‘Its presence rejects expectations, ignores preconceptions and embraces joy,’ says Lowe. ‘You can love the work or hate the work, but you can’t ignore it.’ Black raffia, inspired by cultural adornments, spills from the centre of the work, reflecting Lowe’s interest in navigating culture and identity in contemporary contexts. This is his first time as a finalist in the Wynne Prize.