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Queensland's richest art prize - the $50,000 Gold Award - continues its odyssey to capture the very brightest stars of the Australian contemporary art scene.A glittering line up of nine of Australia's most in demand contemporary artists has been revealed, with the winner to be announced at Rockhampton Art Gallery on July 22.Designed as an invitation award to consider the best in contemporary painting while simultaneously building a substantive collection, the most outstanding work or works by an artist will be awarded the $50,000 cash prize.The entries from all finalists in this prestigious biennial event will then be exhibited at Rockhampton Art Gallery until September 4.For over 40 years Rockhampton Art Gallery has been proactively securing key contemporary works and the Gold Award is an incredibly valuable vehicle for allowing this tradition to continue. A wide range of genres from artists of varying backgrounds are selected in an effort to drill out a core sample of current trends in contemporary painting.The nine artists selected as finalists for the 2016 Award are:Kate BEYNON (VIC)Karen BLACK (QLD)Jon CATTAPAN (VIC)eX de MEDICI (ACT)Fiona LOWRY (NSW)Guy MAESTRI (NSW)Julian MEAGHER (NSW)Monica ROHAN (QLD)John YOUNG (VIC)From landscape and self-portraiture, to figuration and abstraction, an array of disparate genres are used by the "golden nine" to explore wide ranging and essential themes such as identity, culture, politics and power.The winning entry will be determined by guest judge, Chris Saines CNZM, Director, Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art.The Gold Award is a national biennial event, presented at the Rockhampton Art Gallery, as a joint initiative of Rockhampton Art Gallery Trust and Rockhampton Regional Council.