VICTORIAN artist Chelle Destefano has won the inaugural Lake Art Prize.
Her work, Navigating to Safe Space, explored the experience of a deaf artist finding their safe place in the world. The textile work acts as a screen for a silent video projection.
The work went on exhibition alongside 40 other finalists in the $25,000 acquisitive prize at the Lake Macquarie Museum of Art and Culture (MAC) on Saturday.
It and four other works were acquired to become part of the gallery collection.
Lake Macquarie City Council manager arts, culture and tourism Jacqui Hemsley said she had been "blown away" by the volume and quality of entries.
"We received entries from right across Australia, from both accomplished and amateur artists," Ms Hemsley said.
