Artist Profile: National Art School Graduate Shows 2021

Artist Profile: National Art School Graduate Shows 2021

by Danielle Neely

In the lead up to the exhibitions showing across the NAS campus, Artist Profile magazine previewed The Postgrad Show (22–30 Jan) and The Grad Show (11–20 Feb), presenting the amazing work of our 2021 cohort. The exhibitions invite visitors to reflect on, and celebrate, the enduring value of arts education, even (indeed, especially) amidst the uncertainty and instability the sector has faced for the past two years.

“The trenchant red of Helen Zhu’s Tomorrow appears like contraband in the lip of Sibylla (Billie) Robertson’s Relic. Perhaps it’s fanciful to imagine a passing of this colour between the works, or between the artists. Perhaps, though, it’s essential to do this imagining almost because it is fanciful: the opportunity to think outside of the logics of productivity, efficiency, and employability remains a vital gift given to us by art education, even in the most demoralising of circumstances.”

Read the full article linked below.

Images Sibylla (Billie) Robertson, relic, clay and glaze, 22 x 22 x 22 cm. Photo: Peter Morgan

Join us for the closing party for The Neighbour at the Gate – `Afterglow`, headlined by Miss Kannina, and featuring performances by HYLANDER, Rocky Stallone, BRINA, Kuya Hennessy and DJ Court Jester. This free, 18+ concert will be a night to remember!

Thursday 16 October 2025
4.30pm – 10pm
Cell Block Theatre

RSVP at the link in bio.

The Neighbour at the Gate has been made possible with the generous support of the NSW Government through its Blockbusters Funding initiative.

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Sep 15

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Join us for the closing party for The Neighbour at the Gate – 'Afterglow', headlined by Miss Kannina, and featuring performances by HYLANDER, Rocky Stallone, BRINA, Kuya Hennessy and DJ Court Jester. This free, 18+ concert will be a night to remember!

Thursday 16 October 2025
4.30pm – 10pm
Cell Block Theatre

RSVP at the link in bio.

The Neighbour at the Gate has been made possible with the generous support of the NSW Government through its Blockbusters Funding initiative.

Karatsu ceramicist Yukiko Tsuchiya (@tsuchiyayukiko) and curator Kathryn Hunyor (@artspeople_au) delivered two very special workshops in the teaching studios of the Ceramics Department at the National Art School (NAS), in an exciting collaboration between The Japan Foundation (@jpfsydney), Sydney, the NAS Ceramics Department and the National Art School.

Peek inside the wheel-throwing and hand-coiling masterclasses that took place.

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Sep 14

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Karatsu ceramicist Yukiko Tsuchiya (@tsuchiyayukiko) and curator Kathryn Hunyor (@artspeople_au) delivered two very special workshops in the teaching studios of the Ceramics Department at the National Art School (NAS), in an exciting collaboration between The Japan Foundation (@jpfsydney), Sydney, the NAS Ceramics Department and the National Art School.

Peek inside the wheel-throwing and hand-coiling masterclasses that took place.

If you are visiting Sydney Contemporary art fair today, keep an eye out for the many artworks on display by our extraordinary alumni. These are just a handful to spot. 1. Kirtika Kain at Roslyn Oxley9 2. Catherine O’Donnell at Dominik Mersch Gallery 3. Oliver Abbott at Dominik Mersch Gallery 4. Eliza Gosse at Edwina Corlette Gallery 5. Mirra Whale at Mitchell Fine Art 6. Erin Murphy at Velvet Lobster.

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Sep 14

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If you are visiting Sydney Contemporary art fair today, keep an eye out for the many artworks on display by our extraordinary alumni. These are just a handful to spot. 1. Kirtika Kain at Roslyn Oxley9 2. Catherine O’Donnell at Dominik Mersch Gallery 3. Oliver Abbott at Dominik Mersch Gallery 4. Eliza Gosse at Edwina Corlette Gallery 5. Mirra Whale at Mitchell Fine Art 6. Erin Murphy at Velvet Lobster.

NAS Fellow Guido Maestri (@_guido_maestri) opens his solo exhibition, `Buoy,` at Ames Yavuz. Inspired by the landscapes of Pittwater and Ku-ring-gai National Park, the show marks a new evolution in the artist`s work. The exhibition continues until September 27.

Congratulations to NAS Alumna Johanna Ng (@johanna__ng) for winning the 2025 Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize for her work, `a woman wearing a choker is walking in a crowd`.

The 2025 Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize is made possible by the Australian Photographic Society (@austphotosoc) in partnership with the Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre (@muswellbrookartscentre), and with the support of Bengalla Mining Company, MACH Energy, Malabar Resources and AGL.

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1) Guido Maestri, `Whole sound`, 2025, oil on linen, 152 x 183 cm, courtesy of the artist and Ames Yavuz (@amesyavuz).

2) Johanna Ng, ‘a woman wearing a choker is walking in a crowd’ 2024, inkjet print on cotton rag, inkjet print on clear film, 59.4 x 80.5cm, courtesy of the artist and MCPP

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Sep 12

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NAS Fellow Guido Maestri (@_guido_maestri) opens his solo exhibition, 'Buoy,' at Ames Yavuz. Inspired by the landscapes of Pittwater and Ku-ring-gai National Park, the show marks a new evolution in the artist's work. The exhibition continues until September 27.

Congratulations to NAS Alumna Johanna Ng (@johanna__ng) for winning the 2025 Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize for her work, 'a woman wearing a choker is walking in a crowd'.

The 2025 Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize is made possible by the Australian Photographic Society (@austphotosoc) in partnership with the Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre (@muswellbrookartscentre), and with the support of Bengalla Mining Company, MACH Energy, Malabar Resources and AGL.

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1) Guido Maestri, 'Whole sound', 2025, oil on linen, 152 x 183 cm, courtesy of the artist and Ames Yavuz (@amesyavuz).

2) Johanna Ng, ‘a woman wearing a choker is walking in a crowd’ 2024, inkjet print on cotton rag, inkjet print on clear film, 59.4 x 80.5cm, courtesy of the artist and MCPP

Sydney Contemporary is now open!

We’re thrilled to welcome you to Booth J12, where we are showcasing the work of nine emerging artists and alumni, including Jake Bartley @_trizm__, Christian Bonett @christian_bonett_art, Harrison Chao @w4r.h4mm3r, Lewis Doherty @lewisstepsandrew, Isabella Kennedy @isa.kennedy, Rachel Mackay @rachelmackay.art, Megan McKenzie @megan_mckenzie_, Johanna Ng @johanna__ng, and Taylor Steel @taylor__steel.

Sydney Contemporary is on until Sunday 14 September 2025 at Carriageworks — we look forward to seeing you there!

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Sep 11

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Sydney Contemporary is now open!

We’re thrilled to welcome you to Booth J12, where we are showcasing the work of nine emerging artists and alumni, including Jake Bartley @_trizm__, Christian Bonett @christian_bonett_art, Harrison Chao @w4r.h4mm3r, Lewis Doherty @lewisstepsandrew, Isabella Kennedy @isa.kennedy, Rachel Mackay @rachelmackay.art, Megan McKenzie @megan_mckenzie_, Johanna Ng @johanna__ng, and Taylor Steel @taylor__steel.

Sydney Contemporary is on until Sunday 14 September 2025 at Carriageworks — we look forward to seeing you there!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Open Day last Saturday! Don’t forget: applications for the Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS) round close on Friday 3 October.

We have more in-person and online info sessions coming up. Sign up via link in bio to find out what makes NAS different from all other Fine Art degrees or receive one-on-one feedback on your portfolio from a member of the NAS Academic Team.

Image credit: Nicole Anderson (@nicoleandersonphotography)

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Sep 9

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Thank you to everyone who joined us for Open Day last Saturday! Don’t forget: applications for the Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS) round close on Friday 3 October.

We have more in-person and online info sessions coming up. Sign up via link in bio to find out what makes NAS different from all other Fine Art degrees or receive one-on-one feedback on your portfolio from a member of the NAS Academic Team.

Image credit: Nicole Anderson (@nicoleandersonphotography)