BONDI.- Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi announced the award winners for the exhibition on Friday 29 October at the opening party held at the Swiss Grand, Bondi Beach.

The Sydney Water and Environment Prize of $10,000 was awarded to Japanese artist Kaoru Matsumoto for his sculpture 'cycle90°' "a premonition of wind" III. Matsumoto first exhibited at Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi in 2007, and his work is represented at a number of public collections including The National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo and the Osaka Contemporary Art Centre.

The Waverley Council Mayor's prize of $5,000 was awarded to Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi first timer Steve Croquett for his exhibit 'jolly giants'. The Jindabyne resident has been the recipient of many awards at the Light Sculpture exhibition held in Jindabyne, including the Major Award in 2007, 2008 and 2010.

The Icebergs Dining Room & Bar Signature Prize of $5,000 was awarded to Koichi Ishino for 'wind stone - earth and sky'. Living on the Central Coast of NSW, Koichi Ishino is from Japan and emigrated to Australia last year under a distinguished international talent visa in response to his many years of exhibiting in Sculpture by the Sea.

The Andrea Stretton Memorial Invitation to Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe in March 2011 was awarded to Marcus Tatton from Tasmania for his work 'globoids'. Marcus was awarded with $5,000 towards his costs of exhibiting in the WA exhibition. The New Zealand born artist now resides among the wild landscapes of Tasmania, where he draws his inspiration.

The Art Gallery Society of NSW prize of $5,000, donated by the Art Gallery of NSW, as chosen by Edmund Capon, Director of AGNSW was awarded to Linda Bowden for her sculpture 'into the trees' II. This is the eighth year Linda has exhibited at Sculpture by the Sea, she was previously a recipient of The Clitheroe Foundation Mentor Program (Sculpture by the Sea 2007) and the Australian Unrepresented Sculptor Award, (Sculpture by the Sea 2006).

The Damon Courtenay Memorial Young Sculptor Prize of $5000, for an artist 29 years or under, donated by Bryce, Adam and Brett Courtenay was awarded to American artist Charles Schneider for his work crown-of-thorns wallpaper (acanathaster planci). Charles is currently working on collaboration with the Boolarng Nangamai Aboriginal Arts and Culture Studio in Gerringong, on the south coast of NSW. He is planning on producing an installation with the studio at the Kiama blowhole while he is in Australia for Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2010.

The Sculpture Inside Curators Prize of $2, 500 was awarded to Berry artist Michael Purdy for his work squeeze, which is currently on show in the indoor exhibition of over 200 small sculptures by this year's Sculpture by the Sea exhibiting artists. Sculpture Inside is held simultaneously with the outdoor exhibition in the Sculpture Inside marquee in Mark's Park. Michael has exhibited at Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi for six years, and both his indoor and outdoor sandstone works draw from his love of the beautiful material, a result of growing up on Sydney harbour.

Danish artist Keld Moseholm was announced at this year's launch, on 28 October, as the recipient of The Balnaves Foundation Sculpture Prize of $60, 000. Keld is a Danish sculptor with an international reputation for his bronze figures. He has been exhibiting nationally and internationally in solo and group shows for over 25 years in countries such as Sweden, Germany, France, Italy and Australia.

Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2010, the world's largest free-to-the-public outdoor sculpture exhibition, will run until 14 November on the stunning Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk. Each year the exhibition attracts approximately 440, 000 people to see the works of over 100 artists along the coastline.

Each year the exhibition attracts an array of talented sculptors from NSW and interstate, as well as gifted international artists from countries such as Denmark, Japan, India, New Caledonia and the USA.

Sculpture by the Sea is an international series of exhibitions at Cottesloe Beach in Perth, Western Australia from 4 to 22 March 2011 and in the beautiful city of Aarhus in Denmark from the 2 June to 3 July 2011.