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NAS Retake: Sophie Cape

NAS Connect

NAS Retake: Sophie Cape

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As we’re all spending more time inside, we’ve been digging around in our Archive and Collection and rediscovering some brilliant work collected over the years from NAS Alumni. To share it with you, here’s the first in our new series called NAS Retake, celebrating and observing the student works of our alumni. This week, we’re kicking off with Sophie Cape, who graduated from NAS in 2010.

When Cape’s career as an elite athlete ended due to injury in 2008, her art making became the perfect outlet for her athletic energy and her love of being outdoors. Cape immersed herself physically and emotionally into the landscape. It was at the National Art School that she discovered and developed her unique visual language, making large-scale, visceral artworks composed predominately on the ground, outside and in seclusion.

The drawing Rests her weary head (pictured above) was made in her first year of art school after a trip to the bush. Cape used locally found materials: soil for pigments, burnt branches as charcoal, bones to draw with, and shrubs as brushes. These works became cathartic, psychological self-portraits fusing the artist’s raw energy and emotion, materiality and narrative. The work combines her lifelong love of poetry with the interchangeability of line, drawing and text – ongoing elements of her work. This also kick started her experiments with abstraction.

Sophie Cape’s paintings are both abstract and figurative, and are made through a dramatic, performative process, with great expression and physicality. Her works are often large in scale and psychological in the dialogue that they create about the human condition.

Romper Stomper is a portrait of the actor Dan Wyllie which took two years to make. The artist has commented on the sitter’s light-hearted, almost clownish characteristics compared to another darker side to his character. She says, ‘this contradiction is what life is about; that beauty does not exist without horror and that one cannot be truly appreciated without the other’. This work won the Portia Geach Memorial Award for portraiture in 2014.

Self-portrait (2008) was from the artist’s second year of study and was her first attempt at portraiture and painting with oils. The intensity of the gaze and the formal composition from forehead to chin clearly relates to her large-scale portrait of Dan Wyllie painted six years later.

Want to find out more?

Keep your eyes peeled on our page as we feature new works and artists straight from the NAS Archive and Collection. Follow the hashtag on Instagram to stay up-to-date with our latest posts.

Images (top to bottom): Sophie Cape, Rests her weary head, 2008, charcoal and soil pigment on paper, 55 x 75 cm, National Art School Collection, donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by the artist, 2018. Image courtesy and © the artist; Sophie Cape, Romper Stomper (Dan Wyllie), 2014, bitumen, acrylic, oil, soil, charcoal and ink on canvas, 200 x 200 cm, National Art School Collection, donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by the artist, 2018. Image courtesy and © the artist; Sophie Cape, Self Portrait, 2008, oil on canvas, 30 x 30 cm, National Art School Collection, donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by the artist, 2018. Image courtesy and © the artist

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What`s happening at the National Art School on 6 September? RSVP to our Open Day today to find out. (Link in bio)

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Aug 22

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What's happening at the National Art School on 6 September? RSVP to our Open Day today to find out. (Link in bio)

Hear artist James Nguyen (@jamesnguyens) discuss the process of his artwork ‘Homeopathies_where new trees grow’ (2025), a site-specific installation created for The Neighbour at the Gate, now on at NAS Gallery.

In response to the exhibition, Nguyen created a large-scale suspended textile, dyed with introduced weeds and contaminated mud collected along the Duck River and Parramatta River in Sydney. These local sites, like many places in Vietnam, continue to be contaminated by Agent Orange, dioxins and toxic leachates that account for the industrial scale manufacturing of chemical weapons along Homebush Bay.

The Naarm/Melbourne-based, Vietnamese Australian artist positions his personal experiences and perspectives in dialogue with others in his interdisciplinary practice, moving between live and online performance, video, drawing and installations. This work was made in conjunction with Nguyen’s aunt, Nguyễn Thị Kim Nhung, and uncle, Nguyễn Công Chính, who you can hear in conversation with the artist in the Artist Talks archive on our website.

The Neighbour at the Gate is now on until Saturday 18 October 2025. 11am – 5pm, Monday to Sunday. Plan your visit 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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Aug 21

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Hear artist James Nguyen (@jamesnguyens) discuss the process of his artwork ‘Homeopathies_where new trees grow’ (2025), a site-specific installation created for The Neighbour at the Gate, now on at NAS Gallery. In response to the exhibition, Nguyen created a large-scale suspended textile, dyed with introduced weeds and contaminated mud collected along the Duck River and Parramatta River in Sydney. These local sites, like many places in Vietnam, continue to be contaminated by Agent Orange, dioxins and toxic leachates that account for the industrial scale manufacturing of chemical weapons along Homebush Bay. The Naarm/Melbourne-based, Vietnamese Australian artist positions his personal experiences and perspectives in dialogue with others in his interdisciplinary practice, moving between live and online performance, video, drawing and installations. This work was made in conjunction with Nguyen’s aunt, Nguyễn Thị Kim Nhung, and uncle, Nguyễn Công Chính, who you can hear in conversation with the artist in the Artist Talks archive on our website. The Neighbour at the Gate is now on until Saturday 18 October 2025. 11am – 5pm, Monday to Sunday. Plan your visit 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.

Congratulations to our recent BFA graduate Samuel Chan (@__szwc), who has been named one of three recipients of the ‘most exceptional’ prize at the Dr Harold Schenberg Arts Awards.

Now in its 16th year, the Dr Harold Schenberg Arts Awards offers the largest prize pool for emerging artists in Australia and is part of PICA’s ‘Hatched: National Graduate Show’. To be part of ‘Hatched’ exhibition is an honour as it showcases the next generation of Australia’s contemporary creative voices, presenting artworks by 23 outstanding art school graduates from across the country.

Sam’s award-winning installation work includes `At Eventuality’s End` - an evocative sculptural piece previously featured in our ‘Queer Contemporary: Chaosophy ‘exhibition as well as the NAS Grad Show.

Inspired by our alumni success stories? Join our Open Day on 6 September to explore your own creative path and get application-ready with one-on-one consultation sessions. (Link in bio)

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(In order of appearance in the video)

`Embrace`, 2024, resin, stainless steel hook, Conte crayon, 47 x 14.5 x 9.5cm

‘Transfiguration’, 2024, Chillagoe White Pearl marble, mild steel, incense, 172 x 26 x 26cm

`Noose`, 2024, resin, graphite, titanium rod, 30 x 14 x 5cm

`At Eventuality`s End`, 2024, hand-dyed paper, wire mesh, mild steel rod, 255 x 80 x 60cm

Image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Jennifer Leahy (@silversalt_photography)

@pica_perth

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Aug 19

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Congratulations to our recent BFA graduate Samuel Chan (@__szwc), who has been named one of three recipients of the ‘most exceptional’ prize at the Dr Harold Schenberg Arts Awards. Now in its 16th year, the Dr Harold Schenberg Arts Awards offers the largest prize pool for emerging artists in Australia and is part of PICA’s ‘Hatched: National Graduate Show’. To be part of ‘Hatched’ exhibition is an honour as it showcases the next generation of Australia’s contemporary creative voices, presenting artworks by 23 outstanding art school graduates from across the country. Sam’s award-winning installation work includes 'At Eventuality’s End' - an evocative sculptural piece previously featured in our ‘Queer Contemporary: Chaosophy ‘exhibition as well as the NAS Grad Show. Inspired by our alumni success stories? Join our Open Day on 6 September to explore your own creative path and get application-ready with one-on-one consultation sessions. (Link in bio) -- (In order of appearance in the video) 'Embrace', 2024, resin, stainless steel hook, Conte crayon, 47 x 14.5 x 9.5cm ‘Transfiguration’, 2024, Chillagoe White Pearl marble, mild steel, incense, 172 x 26 x 26cm 'Noose', 2024, resin, graphite, titanium rod, 30 x 14 x 5cm 'At Eventuality's End', 2024, hand-dyed paper, wire mesh, mild steel rod, 255 x 80 x 60cm Image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Jennifer Leahy (@silversalt_photography) @pica_perth

We’re Hiring!

Painting Technician - Application Deadline Sunday 7 September
Under the direction of the Head of Painting and lecturing staff of the department, the Painting Technician is responsible for the resourcing, maintenance and upkeep of the studios and equipment of the department; the implementation of effective studio process and procedures, and the demonstration/monitoring of safe and appropriate use of studio equipment and resources. The Painting Technician is responsible for resourcing and supporting the delivery of all Painting programs including Degree Programs, Public Programs short courses, and Education Outreach programs and workshops.

Sales and Events Coordinator - Application Deadline Sunday 7 September
The Sales and Events Coordinator plays a key role in promoting and coordinating commercial venue hire at the National Art School (NAS), located on a unique and historic heritage-listed campus in Darlinghurst. The role is responsible for managing client enquiries, preparing event plans and quotes, and ensuring client needs are clearly scoped and communicated — without exceeding agreed service levels or budgets.

Facilities Assistant – Application Deadline Sunday 31 August
The Facilities Assistant provides general facilities support across the campus heritage buildings, undertaking all general maintenance on buildings, grounds, plant, and equipment, as well as preventative maintenance. Work is planned through maintenance schedules as well as daily reactive work, prioritising and escalating urgent matters as appropriate. If you’re practical, reliable, and ready to contribute to a creative, purpose-driven environment, we’d love to hear from you.

Visit the link in bio to learn more.

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Aug 18

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We’re Hiring! Painting Technician - Application Deadline Sunday 7 September Under the direction of the Head of Painting and lecturing staff of the department, the Painting Technician is responsible for the resourcing, maintenance and upkeep of the studios and equipment of the department; the implementation of effective studio process and procedures, and the demonstration/monitoring of safe and appropriate use of studio equipment and resources. The Painting Technician is responsible for resourcing and supporting the delivery of all Painting programs including Degree Programs, Public Programs short courses, and Education Outreach programs and workshops. Sales and Events Coordinator - Application Deadline Sunday 7 September The Sales and Events Coordinator plays a key role in promoting and coordinating commercial venue hire at the National Art School (NAS), located on a unique and historic heritage-listed campus in Darlinghurst. The role is responsible for managing client enquiries, preparing event plans and quotes, and ensuring client needs are clearly scoped and communicated — without exceeding agreed service levels or budgets. Facilities Assistant – Application Deadline Sunday 31 August The Facilities Assistant provides general facilities support across the campus heritage buildings, undertaking all general maintenance on buildings, grounds, plant, and equipment, as well as preventative maintenance. Work is planned through maintenance schedules as well as daily reactive work, prioritising and escalating urgent matters as appropriate. If you’re practical, reliable, and ready to contribute to a creative, purpose-driven environment, we’d love to hear from you. Visit the link in bio to learn more.
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