2021 NAS Awards Recipients

2021 NAS Awards Recipients

On Thursday 10 February, the National Art School celebrated the achievements and success of our students through awarding of prizes and scholarships. We would like to congratulate the award recipients for their hard work, and thank our lecturers and technicians for their outstanding dedication and commitment to each and every student.

All of the prizes and scholarships awarded have been generously provided by our benefactors and sponsors, and we also thank you for your support.

Major Awards

Bird Holcomb Foundation Scholarship
Sophie Horne

Mark Henry Cain Memorial Travel Scholarship
Alice Xu

East Sydney Doctors Scholarship
Sadhbha Cockburn

Clitheroe Foundation Scholarship
Harry de Vries

National Art School Aboriginal Art Centre Internship
Aarone Neill and Charlie Komsic

Standish & Co Scholarship
Samantha Jade

James Ballaam Elsley Memorial Prize
Drawing: Aaron McGarry
Painting: Brodie Cullen

Tweed Regional Gallery
Susie Dureau

Lift Off
Luca Blasonato

Art History

Brandon Trakman Prize
Laura Bishop and Harry de Vries

Ceramics

Sabbia Gallery Exhibition Prize
Susie Choi

Parkers Sydney Fine Art Ceramic Award
Sebastian Mills

Kil.n.It Award
Charlotte Komsic and Sebastian Conti

N.E. Pethebridge Award
BFA: Susie Choi
MFA: Sibylla Robertson

Matilda Kubany-Deane Memorial Prize
Nathan Hale

Australian Ceramics Association Prize
Lydia Sidarta and Tasio Sclavenitis

Drawing

Parkers Sydney Fine Art Drawing Award
Anna Mould

John Olsen Prize for Drawing (Highly Commended)
Sadie Whelan

John Olsen Prize for Drawing
Georgina de Manning

The Bonner and Tonkin Drawing Prize
Amelia Skelton

Anne Pata Memorial Drawing Award
Susana Vazquez

Kaye Shumack Sunflower Drawing Prize
Luke Thurgate

Painting

Parkers Sydney Fine Art Painting Award
Skye Bakhos

Derivan Award for Mixed Media
Sophie Horne

Parkers Sydney Fine Art Framing Award
Dylan Newling

Derivan Award for Excellence
Lesley Wengembo

Trenna Austin Gallery Prize for Abstract Painting
Alison Anderson

Troy Quinliven Exhibition Award
Alice Xu

Richard Lucchese Abstract Painting Prize
Sara Mugnes

Photomedia

Kayell Australia Photography Award
Natasha Hollen

Joel Corrigan Memorial Photography Award
Samantha Jade

Printmaking

Artscene Printmaking Prize
Charlotte Featherstone and Isabella Kennedy

Parkers Sydney Fine Art Printmaking Award
Bella La Spina

Ellen Lee O’Shaughnessy Printmaking Award
Jake Starr and Emilee Robinson

Megalo Studio and Gallery Residency Award
Shani Black

Gallery Lane Cove + Creative Studios Printmaking Award
Harry de Vries

Sculpture

Parkers Sydney Fine Art Sculpture Award
Aaron McGarry

Sculpture by the Sea Prize
April Gales and Savannah Van Der Veer

Dr John Vallance Prize for Sculpture
Susann Taylor and George Squires

KNULP Exhibition Prize
Aarone Neill

Open Awards

NAVA Ignition Prize for Professional Practice
Jeni Mulvey

Studio W doubleyou Exhibition Prize
Sadie Whelan

The Squatters Residency
TC Overson and Lewis Doherty

Dominik Mersch Gallery Award
Nina Walton

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Final weeks to visit The Neighbour at the Gate, closing Saturday 18 October. 

Across various mediums and perspectives, The Neighbour at the Gate charts the entangled legacies of exclusion and resilience, drawing vital parallels between the past and present, memory and nationhood.

Learn more about the exhibition and plan your visit at the link in bio. 

Please note: the gallery is closed for Labour Day Monday 6 October
Enjoy 20% off a Summer School Short Course with code FLASHSALE20

Don’t miss this exclusive 20% off flash sale on the National Art School Summer School Short Courses (link in bio). Flash Sale starts right now and ends midnight Monday 6 October.*

*Offer begins midday Friday 3 October and ends midnight Monday 6 October. Terms and conditions apply.
We are pleased to share the exciting news that we are introducing a new BFA (Hons) degree at the National Art School in 2026.

The Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours) is an intensive one-year program designed for graduates of the BFA who are ready to deepen their studio practice and expand their academic and professional capabilities. This course is ideal for emerging artists who want to refine their practice, build industry connections, and prepare for postgraduate study or professional opportunities in the creative sector.

New scholarships will be available to students entering the BFA (Hons), with further details to be shared later this year. For more information and key dates, visit futurestudents.nas.edu.au (link in bio).
Join us for free 18+ concert 'Afterglow' – The Neighbour at the Gate exhibition closing party.

Headlined by Miss Kaninna, the event features performances by HYLANDER, Rocky Stallone, BRINA, Kuya Hennessy, and DJ Court Jester. RSVP today as tickets are going fast!

Afterglow 
Thursday 16 October 
Doors: 4.30pm
Concert starts: 7.00pm
Cell Block Theatre, National Art School

Please note: if the Cell Block reaches capacity, you’re welcome to enjoy the concert from the courtyard until space opens up inside. Food trucks and pop up bar.

FREE ADMISSION, RSVP is essential due to limited capacity (link in bio)
Congratulations to NAS Short Courses Painting Lecturer Michelle Hiscock (@michellelouisemariehiscock) for winning the 2025 Portia Geach Memorial Award with her work, 'The Weather Watcher after Zurbarán'. 

The Portia Geach Memorial Award is the pre-eminent portraiture prize for women in Australia, established by Florence Kate Geach in memory of her sister in 1965. 

An exhibition of all finalists’ works is open for public viewing at the S.H. Ervin Gallery (@shervingallery) in The Rocks, Sydney, from Friday 19 September until Sunday 2 November.

Visit shop.nas.edu.au (link in bio) to book now for Term 4 Short Courses. Summer School Short Courses in January 2026 will open for booking from Friday 3 October. 

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Michelle Hiscock, 'The Weather Watcher after Zurbarán', 2025, oil on linen, 50 x 40 cm, courtesy of the artist and the S.H. Ervin Gallery (The Rocks, Sydney)
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