By Lesley Apps
NAS alumna and lecturer, Blue Mountains-based artist Catherine O’Donnell is a case in point that it’s never too late to pick up and pursue a career you feel passionate about.
The successful artist raised four children before heading off to TAFE in 2000 “to do something for herself” fuelled by a love of drawing she had carried with her since she was a child.
Image: Catherine O’Donnell, supplied.
Congratulations to NAS alumni/staff Sassy Park, Joan Ross, Evan Shipard, Clare Thackway, Natasha Walsh and Callum Worsfold, finalists of the Archibald Prize 2025.
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Sassy Park, ‘Casey’, 2025, porcelain slip on terracotta, underglaze and glaze, 30.9 x 21.1 cm; Joan Ross, ‘Kidjerikidjeri’, 2025, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 100.4 x 80 cm; Evan Shipard, ‘The green man’, 2025, oil on linen, 66.4 x 81.3 cm; Clare Thackway, ‘With the shadow’, 2025, oil on linen, 81.1 x 65 cm; Natasha Walsh, ‘The Yellow Odalisque of Brunswick’, 2025, oil on copper, 53.2 x 49.9 cm; Callum Worsfold, ‘Self-portrait in the studio’, 2025, oil on board, 22.9 x 12.6 cm; Image courtesy the artists and Art Gallery NSW and © the artists
May 21
Congratulations to NAS alumni/staff Mitch Cairns, Timothy Ferguson, Bronte Leighton-Dore, Fiona Lowry and Chris O’Doherty, finalists of the Archibald Prize 2025.
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Mitch Cairns, ‘Stephen Ralph’, 2025, oil on linen, 152.5 x 101.7 cm; Timothy Ferguson, ‘Keiran’, 2025, oil on canvas, 35.5 x 28 cm; Bronte Leighton-Dore, ‘Monica in her studio’, 2025, gouache on paper, 56 x 38.4 cm; Fiona Lowry, ‘Ken Done’, 2025, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 212.9 x 176 cm; Chris O’Doherty (aka Reg Mombassa), ‘Self-portrait with nose tube’, 2025, oil on board, 39.9 x 29.9 cm; Image courtesy the artists and Art Gallery NSW and © the artists
May 21
NAS Drawing Lecturer @luke_thurgate was at @secca__bega last week recreating his work `I believe in you` as part of the 23rd Dobell Drawing Prize touring exhibition. The exhibition presents a selection of 56 finalists` work from the 2023 Prize, including Jane Grealy’s winning work `Maria’s Garden, Scheme C`. Open until 28 June 2025.
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Luke Thurgate with his work `I believe in you` at SECCA, 2025, as part of the Dobell Drawing Prize #23 touring exhibition, image courtesy and © the artists and SECCA, photography: @marcuswardcurran
May 19
When the 24th Dobell Drawing Prize winner Rosemary Lee (@cooldog94) visited the Prize exhibition in 2021, she made a personal commitment to enter every year. Watch our interview with Rosemary to find out more about the inspiration behind her artwork.
The Dobell Prize exhibition is now open until Saturday 21 June 2025. Free admission, all welcome.
May 10
We are proud to share that National Art School alum Gene A`Hern (@gene_ahern) is the winner of the Sir John Sulman Prize 2025 for his work ‘Sky painting’. Congratulations to other prize winners Julie Fragar (the Archibald Prize 2025) and Jude Rae (the Wynne Prize 2025).
See A`Hern`s work exhibited alongside the other winners and finalists in the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2025 exhibition at @artgalleryofnsw, opening Saturday 10 May.
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Sulman Prize 2025 winner, Gene A`Hern, ‘Sky painting’, oil and oil stick on board, 240 x 240 cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Diana Panuccio; Wynne Prize 2025 winner, Jude Rae, ‘Pre-dawn sky over Port Botany container terminal’, oil on linen, 200 x 150.4 cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Diana Panuccio; Archibald Prize 2025 winner, Julie Fragar, ‘Flagship Mother Multiverse (Justene)’, oil on canvas, 240 x 180.4 cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
May 9
“unexpectedly riveting”
“park all your preconceptions at the door”
“this exhibition challenges the idea of what a drawing is”
Some soundbites from Edwina Throsby’s interview with Chris Bath on ABC Drive’s ‘Critics Panel’ where she spoke about the 24th Dobell Drawing Prize. Listen to the interview at the link in bio and see for yourself at NAS Gallery, 11am – 5pm Monday to Saturday. Free admission, all welcome.
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Opening night of the 24th Dobell Drawing Prize, National Art School Gallery, Sydney, 2025, image courtesy and © the artists and National Art School, photograph: Nicole Anderson
May 9
