SMH: Portrait of an artist as an older student
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SMH: Portrait of an artist as an older student
By Heath Gilmore
The National Art School is renowned for its bright young things bustling with brio, eager to shake up the world. Its almost 100-year history is a roll call of artists of national and international renown, including Max Dupain, John Olsen, Margaret Olley, Tim Storrier, Cressida Campbell, Fiona Hall, Lucy Culliton, Juz Kitson, Guy Maestri, Natasha Walsh and Justine Varga.
Yet the high sandstone walls of the old gaol now guard some more fragile hopes and dreams. An array of lawyers, architects, bankers, industrial chemists and plumbers who finally answered a gnawing, self admonishment. They have walked away from certainty of income and career status to chase a dream: being able to call themselves an artist.
Image: Virginia Lydiard, who was a NSW crown prosecutor, is now doing her first year of a Bachelor of Fine Art at the National Art School in Darlinghurst. Photo: Janie Barrett
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Friday 27 February 2026
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Friday 27 February 2026
Congratulations to National Art School alum Tommy Carman as the recipient of this year’s Prudence MacLeod Prize. Supported by the Lansdowne Foundation, Tommy will undertake a 6-month residency at Acme Studios, London from July this year. Selection Panel Statement The selection panel was thoroughly impressed with the high calibre of applications across a diverse range of practices. The shortlisted…
Thursday 26 February 2026
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Thursday 26 February 2026
Made possible through the generous support of Sam Watkins, PIMCO Australia, we are delighted to announce a new scholarship that supports a talented First Nations artist undertaking the Bachelor of Fine Art. Congratulations to Matthew Thomson as the inaugural recipient. Matthew, a Worimi country man, grew up in the Maroubra beach / La Perouse area and commences at the National Art School as a BFA…
Tuesday 24 February 2026
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Tuesday 24 February 2026
Following a short fundraising campaign, the National Art School archive and collections has recently acquired Sydney Gaol, an extremely rare album containing original photographs of our site and building. Our sincerest thanks to all our donors who made this acquisition possible. Email nasarchives@nas.edu.au to make an appointment to view this new acquisition.