Sydney artist Tony Albert has won the $100,000 Basil Sellers Art Prize for a work reflecting on racism in sport.

His work, Once upon a time … 2013-14 features a painted target covered with 23 small framed works depicting objects such as toys, blocks and figurines.

It references crowd abuse directed towards indigenous AFL player, Brownlow medallist and Australian of the Year Adam Goodes.

The Sydney star was abused by a Collingwood supporter in 2013 and by an Essendon fan in May this year.

Art and sport is the theme for the prize, which has been staged at the Ian Potter Museum of Art at the University of Melbourne every second year since 2008.

“Judges commended Once upon a time for its bravery and poetry, and for the fact that it tackles such a difficult and emotive issue in sport and Australian culture without being didactic or heavy-handed,” museum director Kelly Gellatly said.

An exhibition of the 16 finalists’ works opens at the museum on Saturday and runs until October 26.