Canberra artist Alicia Cox has been awarded the $1000 Mayor’s Choice Award at the 24^th Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize for her work, Rack.

Using casts of her own body Cox, who recently graduated with first-class honours from the ANU School of Art & Design, transforms domestic objects into sculpture. Using mould-making techniques, she puts herself into tableware that sits within familiar frameworks of utility.

In making the selection, Mayor of Woollahra Sarah Dixson said: “Rack shows objectification in a very real, practical way and makes a comment on the role of women in the home. It’s both familiar and challenging, and also quite fun.”

Other prizes announced were the $25,000 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize, which went to Auckland artist Virginia Leonard for Glad that you are not here all the time – an urn for unwanted limbs, while the $2000 Special Commendation Award went to Paddington artist Thomas Mason for Torque, an assemblage of stoneware, glaze, construction adhesive, epoxy putty and cornice cement.

Founded by Woollahra Council to celebrate innovative approaches to contemporary sculpture, the exhibition at which the prizes were announced, featuring works by all 54 finalists, is on display at Woollahra Gallery, Double Bay, Sydney until November 16.