SMH: Wave hello to art at Sculpture by the Sea

SMH: Wave hello to art at Sculpture by the Sea

It was a busy scene yesterday with anxious artists overseeing the installation of their works, each undoubtedly with an eye on the $70,000 award due to be announced on Wednesday.

This is the 23rd year of the show. It is billed as the world’s largest annual free outdoor sculpture exhibition and last year drew 450,000 visitors. Works from more than 100 artists will be on display until November 10.

Huge congratulations to our staff, students and alumni, all 16 of them who have been selected for this year’s Sculpture by the Sea exhibition: Paul Bacon, Lucy Barker, Anthony Battaglia, Nigel Dobson, Harrie Fasher, Simon Hodgson, David Horton, Orest Keywan, Tim Macfarlane Reid, Nadia Odlum, Ron Robertson-Swann, Paul Selwood, Michael Snape, Katie Stewart, Sally Stoneman, Alicia Zhao

Special mentions to NAS Sculpture lecturer David Horton, who is participating as part of the Transfield Australian Invited Artist Program initiative, which funds two major new works each year, MFA student Nigel Dobson who received a Clitheroe Foundation scholarship, and alumna Nadia Odlum who received a $30,000 Helen Lempriere Scholarship for emerging artists.

Image: Simon Hodgson, The Poetry of Logical Ideas. Credit: Janie Barrett

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We are pleased to announce that applications are now open for the Prudence MacLeod Prize. 

The Prudence MacLeod Prize, which will continue for a further three years, supports a recent National Art School graduate to undertake a six-month residency at @acme.art, London.

Supported by the Lansdowne Foundation, the Prize provides an emerging artist with an opportunity to step forward into an expanded, international context at a vital time in their career. The artist will live and work in London, one of the world's great art cities, in a supportive artist community. This important opportunity will enable the artist to forge professional international contacts, explore London's art world and rich cultural resources, and produce a new body of work.

The recipient of this Prize will receive:
– Return travel to London. To be arranged for the artist by NAS.
– Studio accommodation and workspace at Acme Studios for 6 months.
– Living stipend of $AUD3,500 per month for 6 months. Total $AUD21,000.

Application deadline: Sunday 1 February 2026, 11.59pm
Residency: Monday 6 July – Friday 18 December 2026

The Prudence MacLeod Prize is open to eligible NAS alumni who have graduated within the past five years and meet the selection criteria.

Learn more 🔗 in bio. 

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Acme Fire Station, 30 Gillender Street, 1999 © Acme Archive
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the opening of The Grad Show!

Find works by this year's cohort exhibited throughout the NAS campus until 14 December. Open daily from 11am — 5pm and until 9pm on Fridays. 

View online via 🔗 in bio.

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Video: Tim Connolly
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