The 2014 Molly Morpeth Canaday Award exhibition has opened at the Whakatane Library and Exhibition Centre, with a Nelson artist taking the top honour.

Napier's Ben Pearce has been announced as this year's winner of the Molly Morpeth Canaday 3D Award.

Ben Pearce of Napier has won this year's Molly Morpeth Canaday 3D Award.

This year's award, which focused on three dimensional art in any media, attracted 72 entries from throughout the nation, with judge Andrea Du Chatenier choosing 29 of the works to form the exhibition.

Ben was presented with $5000 for the Supreme Award by Molly Morpeth Canaday trustee Gaye Murphy at the exhibition opening in the Opus Gallery at Te Koputu a te whanga a Toi – the Whakatane Library and Exhibition Centre – last Friday.

About 70 people attended the exhibition opening, including eight of the selected artists who travelled to Whakatane for the event.

Andrea says Ben's entry: 'Asks us to look at it because it's beautifully made and lacks an absolute meaning that allows us to be creative in our interpretation”.

Ben's artwork is now being exhibited to the public, along with the other 28 pieces, at the gallery until October 26.