A Tasmanian has taken out one of Australia's richest sculpture prizes.

Matt Calvert's three-metre plate steel silhouette, titled "Boy", has been acquired by the Wyndham City Council in Victoria, as part of the Helen Lempriere award.

His work will be installed on the Werribee Beach foreshore.

Mr Calvert says the $35,000 prize is a great bonus.

"It was a nice moment, I've been in the Lempriere three times, I mean you can never expect to win, there's always a chance but the acquisitive prize is always good to win because the work gets placed in a good spot and you don't have to worry about freighting it home," he said.

The $80,000 contemporary sculpture award honours Helen Lempriere, one of Australia's most prominent mid-20th Century artists, and was set up by her husband.