Call out for contributions
Are you a former student, or family member of someone who has studied or taught at the National Art School or East Sydney Technical College? Do you know someone who was incarcerated in Darlinghurst Gaol, or who worked on the transformation from gaol to art school? Do you have archival material that relates specifically to any part of our history, such as the buildings, or events that took place here? If so, we would be very interested to hear from you.
In 2022, the National Art School commemorated two important milestones in its history: the 100-year anniversary of our location in Darlinghurst, as well as the 200-year anniversary of the construction of the Darlinghurst Gaol walls (1822), which can still be seen today with their original convict markings.
To celebrate this significant moment in time, NAS held a major exhibition ‘Captivate: the National Art School and Darlinghurst Gaol’ primarily sourced from the extensive National Art School Collection. As a result, many new objects, artworks and archival materials were donated to the collection, and people also contributed their stories about the gaol and the art school (formerly part of East Sydney Technical College). We are still seeking to broaden the information available in our archives and collection.
We are keen to see images or copies of any historical objects or documents relating to the school and the site, including photos, artworks, diplomas, class lists, handbooks and gaol documents and artefacts, as well as typed stories of your memories of experiences or events connected to the school at any point in its history.
Please send contributions to:
Deborah Beck
Lecturer, Archivist and Collections Manager
+61 2 9339 8674
[email protected]
Sonia Legge
Curator, Collections
+61 2 9339 8796
[email protected]
For more about the NAS Archive and Collection see nas.edu.au/nas-archive-and-collection
Congratulations to NAS alumni/staff Daniel McClellan, Jasmine Mowbray, Erin Murphy, Gemma Smith, Nicola Smith and Michael Snape, finalists of the Sulman Prize 2025.
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Daniel McClellan, ‘Jupiter’, 2025, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 169.9 x 110.4 cm; Jasmine Mowbray, ‘Under an ancient tortoiseshell sky’, 2025, oil and synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 150.2 x 120 cm; Gemma Smith, ‘Windward’, 2025, synthetic polymer paint, linen and canvas on linen, 230.2 x 199.5 cm; Nicola Smith, ‘The beginning of spring’, 2025, oil on linen, 85.4 x 80.2 cm; Michael Snape, ‘Painting with fluid subject’, 2025, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 91.7 x 92 cm; Image courtesy the artists and Art Gallery NSW (@artgalleryofnsw) and © the artists
May 26
Congratulations to NAS alumni/staff Mitch Cairns, Nick Collerson, Sarah Contos, Brodie Cullen, Daniel Hollier and Ildiko Kovacs, finalists of the Sulman Prize 2025.
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Mitch Cairns, ‘Narrow cast (studio mural)’, 2025, vinyl on primed linen, 91.9 x 76.4 cm; Nick Collerson, ‘Interpretation of remembrance’, 2025, oil on linen, 137.5 x 152.5 cm; Sarah Contos, ‘Hypnagogia zeitgeist’, 2025, synthetic polymer paint on cotton, screenprint on canvas, tufted Australian wool on cotton monk`s cloth, 184.2 x 169.7 cm; Brodie Cullen, Untitled (mattress painting)’, 2025, synthetic polymer paint on found mattress, 200.2 x 155 cm; Daniel Hollier, ‘Summer rains in dragon veins’, 2025, synthetic polymer paint on polyester, 90 x 100 cm; Ildiko Kovacs, ‘Tracing light’, 2025, oil and oil stick on plywood, 240 x 180 cm; Image courtesy the artists and Art Gallery NSW (@artgalleryofnsw) and © the artists
May 26
Congratulations to NAS alumni/staff Joe Frost, Eliza Gosse, Catherine O`Donnell, Ebony Russell, Michael Snape and Natasha Walsh, finalists of the Wynne Prize 2025.
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Joe Frost, ‘Cumberland / Wallumatta and Wanne’, 2025, synthetic polymer paint on polyester, 183 x 244.1 cm; Eliza Gosse, ‘Flannel flowers under the wattle tree’, 2025, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, oil on birch plywood, 183.4 x 152.7 cm; Catherine O`Donnell, ‘Echoes of home’, 2025, oil on linen, 45.5 x 120.3 cm; Ebony Russell, ‘Polychrome loutrophoros gesture of revealing in blue’, 2025, porcelain, stain, 120 x 35 x 30 cm; Michael Snape, ‘Witness’, 2025, carved cedar wood, 245.5 x 79.8 x 80.5 cm; Natasha Walsh, ‘chrysanthemum tea by the window’, 2025, oil on copper, 40 x 31.6 cm; Image courtesy the artists and Art Gallery NSW (@artgalleryofnsw) and © the artists
May 25
Congratulations to NAS alumni/staff Seth Birchall, Margaret Campbell, Mark Maurangi Carrol, Armando Chant, Casey Chen, Lucy Culliton and Stephen Evans, finalists of the Wynne Prize 2025.
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Seth Birchall, ‘Soft spoken and proud’, 2025, oil on canvas, 163 x 183.2 cm; Margaret Campbell, ‘Minyma pulka (big woman)’, 2025, stoneware with underglaze and sgrafitto, 25.6 x 15.7 x 5.5 cm; Mark Maurangi Carrol, ‘Song palm (stay forever)’, 2025, oil enamel and permanent marker on linen, 198.2 x 244 cm; Armando Chant, ‘Aura’, 2025, linen thread, pigment and binder on linen, 150.4 x 160.7 cm; Casey Chen, ‘Military maneuvers 7 (after Rousseau), 2025, glazed earthenware tiles, overglaze enamels, gold lustre, wood, grout, 39.5 x 49.5 cm; Lucy Culliton, ‘Cliff Hole, Bottom Bullock’, 2025, oil on canvas, 183.4 x 244 cm; Stephen Evans, ‘Brunswick creek’, 2025, concertina book; ink and watercolour on paper, 5 x 49 cm; Image courtesy the artists and Art Gallery NSW (@artgalleryofnsw) and © the artists
May 25
On Thursday, we celebrated the graduating cohort of 2024. Here are some of our favourite moments.
May 24
Last night we celebrated the recipients of the 2025 National Art School Fellowship, leading Australian artists Cressida Campbell AM and Guido Maestri. NAS Director and CEO Dr Kristen Sharp noted “both Campbell’s and Maestri’s life and work have an enduring impact on the arts in Australia and continue to inspire the students at the National Art School.”
Cressida Campbell said of the award “I am really honoured to become a Fellow of the National Art School. Most artists in any field have nervous temperaments and to start your creative life within the beautiful sandstone walls of the National Art School amongst supportive souls is a great start to wherever your life takes you.”
Guido Maestri stated “It’s an incredible honour to be added as a Fellow among such inspiring artists that I respect and have admired for so long. There is a momentum and energy that I got from my time at the National Art School that is still with me today.”
May 23
