Arts patron Gene Sherman judged the competition from 16 finalists and chose Kelly’s colourful photo-montage as the winning work.

Kelly wins the right to take up a $20,000 international residency.

“I hope to spend six weeks in Berlin and six weeks in New York,’’ she said from her Sydney home.

“I’ve been there before but never have had enough money to stay more than a few days.”

“I really need to go there to study and research the history of photo-montage.”

Kelly said that Berlin had produced the anti-Nazi photo-montages of the 1930s and New York was the home of her mentor, artist Martha Rosler.

Dr Sherman described Kelly’s “moving image” video of animated paper collages as sophisticated.

“It’ s 21st century technology and I also find it very funny,” she said.

Kelly will be allowed a solo exhibition at the Albury Art Gallery based on the work that emerges from the residency.

One or more items produced will be bought for the city collection and the solo exhibition might be sent on a tour of regional art galleries.

Dr Sherman highly commended photographer Tim Silver and Berneice Carrington, who uses charcoal for her works on paper.

Each will receive $500 from the Friends of the Albury Art Gallery.

Dr Sherman also praised the work of Albury artist Bronwyn Cossor.

The Albury Art Prize exhibition opens today.

Gaddafi art, pictures — pages 20 and 21