Frame of Mind: Mental health and the arts

Frame of Mind: Mental health and the arts

by Danielle Neely

A National Art School Arts and Health Program

The National Art School (NAS) and Edith Cowan University (ECU) have joined forces to create Frame of Mind: Mental health and the arts, generously supported by the Minderoo Foundation.

Presented over June and July in 2021, this public program series draws in artists and experts from Western Australia and New South Wales to explore the mental health challenges faced by artists, and the ways artists engage with themes of mental health within their work.

The program features a symposium, an exhibition, artist talks, panel discussions, a publication, a student collaboration and a vlogcast series. Delivered across both states, the program content will be livestreamed and posted to this site, to support cross pollination of ideas across geographic divides.

Through collaborative conversation the outputs of this diverse program will prompt crucial reflection and discussion around mental health in the arts sector, and the importance of the arts to the mental health and wellbeing of all Australians.

VIEW THE WEBSITE

As part of our NAS National Reconciliation Week (NRW) program, we invite you to a special screening of the documentary Kindred (2023). The directors Gillian Moody and Adrian Russell Wills will be joining us for the screening.

Limited capacity - click the link in bio to reserve your seats.

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May 22

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As part of our NAS National Reconciliation Week (NRW) program, we invite you to a special screening of the documentary Kindred (2023). The directors Gillian Moody and Adrian Russell Wills will be joining us for the screening.

Limited capacity - click the link in bio to reserve your seats.

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 (@artgalleryofnsw) and © the artists

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May 21

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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 (@artgalleryofnsw) and © the artists

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 (@artgalleryofnsw) and © the artists

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May 21

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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 (@artgalleryofnsw) and © the artists

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

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May 19

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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

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.

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May 10

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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.

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

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May 9

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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