SYDNEY, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Internationally renowned art event, Sculpture by the Sea, has once more transformed the foreshore surrounding Australia's iconic Bondi Beach into a breathtaking open air gallery.

Officially launching for its 23rd year on Thursday, the unique event is expected to attract over 450,000 local and overseas visitors to view sculptures by roughly 100 artists.

However, this year could be the last time that Sculpture by the Sea appears at Bondi, with a dispute between organizers and local government prompting a possible change of venue.

In July, organizers said they were actively looking for a new home, calling for expressions of interest from other coastal cities in Sydney and around Australia.

For now, the event has remained at the iconic location with New Zealand artist Morgan Jones announced as this year's winner, taking home the almost 50,000 U.S. dollar prize.

Jones, 85, first began sculpting in the early 1960s and held his first solo show in 1966. His latest creation is dubbed "The Sun also rises, and the Sun goes down."

"It just proves that the older you get, the better you become as a sculptor," he told reporters on Thursday.