GOLD COAST — The Doyles art award committee is investigating whether to reclaim a $20,000 prize from artist Jane Allan after alleging her winning painting, "Seaside Explorers," imitated Nicholas Harding's work titled "Two Estuary Figures." The committee stated that Allan's work appeared to be an imitation of Harding's painting. Both paintings depict two figures on a beach, with one bending down and the other turned away with arms towards their face. "Two Estuary Figures" measures 20 x 25cm, while "Seaside Explorers" measures 120 x 90cm.

The Doyles prize committee said lawyers were discussing possible recovery of the prize money from Allan. Gold Coast councillor Glenn Tozer said the committee had been in contact with Allan. The committee, which is entirely voluntary, released a statement saying it was taking the allegations seriously and would investigate ways to make the judging process more robust.

Allan's painting "Weight of the Mind's Periapt" was a finalist in the 2022 Darling portrait prize, where she won the Art Handler's award, worth $2,000. Allan described this work as a portrait of her primary carer, Warren. The painting depicts a figure with white outlining of features and spindly arms. Jean-Michel Basquiat's 1982 work, "Untitled (Two Heads on Gold)," similarly depicts two robot-like figures side-by-side. A National Portrait Gallery spokesperson said art handlers noted at the time of the prize award that Allan was clearly influenced by Jean-Michel Basquiat. The National Portrait Gallery requires artists to declare that they are submitting an original artwork. Nicholas Harding died in 2022, and Jean-Michel Basquiat died in 1988.