SMH: Why this class of 2021 has nothing to lose, and you should buy their work

SMH: Why this class of 2021 has nothing to lose, and you should buy their work

2022-02-16

Article by Linda Morris

There’s more than a half-century difference between the oldest and youngest of this year’s record number of graduates from the National Art School.

Born in different times, and sharing different values and fashions, they are united by the same passion: to create work that remains undiminished by a global pandemic.

Virginia Lydiard, 78, and Samantha Jade, 21, are now also sharing wall space with their works part of the art school’s annual graduate show. There are a record 148 students in the class of 2021, and 1800 works on show.

Read the full article linked below.

Buy tickets to join us for an unforgettable evening as we support the timeless treasures of the National Art School, our artists.

National Treasures is a glittering gala where the rare brilliance of our most esteemed artists shines brighter than a diamond.

Bid in silent and live auctions featuring extraordinary works by NAS Fellows and alumni and compete for once-in-a-lifetime experiences that money (almost!) can’t buy. Then dance into the night as our iconic Cell Block Theatre is taken over with live music, DJs, artist activations, immersive projections, gourmet food, and flowing beverages.

NAS Gala | National Treasures
Art Auction and Cocktail Party
Friday 21 November, 6.00pm – 11.30pm
Cell Block Theatre, National Art School

Purchase tickets at the link in bio.

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Sep 7

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Buy tickets to join us for an unforgettable evening as we support the timeless treasures of the National Art School, our artists.

National Treasures is a glittering gala where the rare brilliance of our most esteemed artists shines brighter than a diamond.

Bid in silent and live auctions featuring extraordinary works by NAS Fellows and alumni and compete for once-in-a-lifetime experiences that money (almost!) can’t buy. Then dance into the night as our iconic Cell Block Theatre is taken over with live music, DJs, artist activations, immersive projections, gourmet food, and flowing beverages.

NAS Gala | National Treasures
Art Auction and Cocktail Party
Friday 21 November, 6.00pm – 11.30pm
Cell Block Theatre, National Art School

Purchase tickets at the link in bio.

Join us for Open Day this Saturday!

Today is your last chance to register to secure your spot (link in bio). Visit our Eventbrite page to download the Open Day program brochure and plan your day.

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Sep 4

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Join us for Open Day this Saturday!

Today is your last chance to register to secure your spot (link in bio). Visit our Eventbrite page to download the Open Day program brochure and plan your day.

The National Art School is seeking an outstanding and experienced arts educator to join us as Head of Learning and Teaching.

The successful candidate will provide academic leadership including working closely with the Heads of academic departments and programs to lead the development and implementation of learning and teaching activities of higher education programs. This includes the development and delivery of curricula, the management of departmental staff and the development of learning and teaching resources.

The Head of Learning and Teaching is expected to provide artistic and scholarly leadership through professional example and will have a track record of original and innovative contributions to the advancement of scholarship, research and teaching within their respective field.

To learn more about the position and to apply, visit nas.edu.au.

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Sep 3

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The National Art School is seeking an outstanding and experienced arts educator to join us as Head of Learning and Teaching.

The successful candidate will provide academic leadership including working closely with the Heads of academic departments and programs to lead the development and implementation of learning and teaching activities of higher education programs. This includes the development and delivery of curricula, the management of departmental staff and the development of learning and teaching resources.

The Head of Learning and Teaching is expected to provide artistic and scholarly leadership through professional example and will have a track record of original and innovative contributions to the advancement of scholarship, research and teaching within their respective field.

To learn more about the position and to apply, visit nas.edu.au.

Congratulations to NAS Alumni Ali Tahayori (@alitahayori) for being named the recipient of the 2025 NSW Visual Arts Fellowship (Emerging). and to Sophie Cape (@sophiecapeartist) for winning the 2025 Hadley`s Art Prize.

With a history spanning over 120 years, the 2025 NSW Visual Arts Fellowship remains one of the most significant springboards for the next generation of artists in NSW. The 2025 NSW Visual Arts Fellowship exhibition is on now at Artspace (@artspacesydney).

Established by Hadley’s Orient Hotel, Hobart in 2017, the Hadley’s Art Prize (@hadleysartprize) is one of Australia’s most lucrative art awards that celebrates landscape art. The collection of winning artworks are displayed at Hadley’s Orient Hotel.

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1) Ali Tahayori, `Union and Separation`, 2025. Installation view, 2025 NSW Visual Arts Fellowship (Emerging), Artspace, Sydney, 2025. Photo: Hamish McIntosh

2) Sophie Cape, `Thunder shifts the shivering sands`, 2024, rust, charcoal, soil, pigment and binder on canvas, 148cm x 160cm. Photo: Jessica King

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Sep 2

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Congratulations to NAS Alumni Ali Tahayori (@alitahayori) for being named the recipient of the 2025 NSW Visual Arts Fellowship (Emerging). and to Sophie Cape (@sophiecapeartist) for winning the 2025 Hadley's Art Prize.

With a history spanning over 120 years, the 2025 NSW Visual Arts Fellowship remains one of the most significant springboards for the next generation of artists in NSW. The 2025 NSW Visual Arts Fellowship exhibition is on now at Artspace (@artspacesydney).

Established by Hadley’s Orient Hotel, Hobart in 2017, the Hadley’s Art Prize (@hadleysartprize) is one of Australia’s most lucrative art awards that celebrates landscape art. The collection of winning artworks are displayed at Hadley’s Orient Hotel.

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1) Ali Tahayori, 'Union and Separation', 2025. Installation view, 2025 NSW Visual Arts Fellowship (Emerging), Artspace, Sydney, 2025. Photo: Hamish McIntosh

2) Sophie Cape, 'Thunder shifts the shivering sands', 2024, rust, charcoal, soil, pigment and binder on canvas, 148cm x 160cm. Photo: Jessica King

Visit the National Art School this Saturday to peek inside the iconic sandstone walls of our campus.

See what life is like for our students by dropping into open studios across the campus, participting in studio demonstration, chatting to our academic staff in one-on-one consultation sessions and taking a gruided tour around the campus.

Make sure to RSVP in advance to secure your spot and receive a free tote bag - limited stock available! (Link in bio)

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Sep 1

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Visit the National Art School this Saturday to peek inside the iconic sandstone walls of our campus.

See what life is like for our students by dropping into open studios across the campus, participting in studio demonstration, chatting to our academic staff in one-on-one consultation sessions and taking a gruided tour around the campus.

Make sure to RSVP in advance to secure your spot and receive a free tote bag - limited stock available! (Link in bio)

The National Art School is excited to present the next wave of Australia’s artistic talent at Sydney Contemporary 2025.

Located at Booth J12, we will be showcasing the work of nine emerging artists who have recently graduated from either our Master of Fine Art Program or our Bachelor of Fine Art Program. Highlighting the breadth and diversity of the National Art School’s program—renowned for its studio-based learning and practice-driven teaching—the NAS booth will feature outstanding work by emerging artists, including Jake Bartley @_trizm__, Christian Bonett @christian_bonett_art, Harrison Chao @w4r.h4mm3r, Lewis Doherty @lewisstepsandrew, Isabella Kennedy @isa.kennedy, Rachel Mackay @rachelmackay.art, Megan McKenzie @megan_mckenzie_, Johanna Ng @johanna__ng, and Taylor Steel @taylor__steel.

Learn more about our artists at the link in bio.

11 – 14 September, Carriageworks. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Jake Bartley, ‘Im at the Root of All Evil’, 2025, oil on canvas, 195 x 157.5 cm; Christian Bonett, ‘The G(A)Y team van’, 2024, glazed earthenware, 48 x 23 x 20 cm; Harison Chao, ‘Spectacular Optical’, 2024, oil on canvas, 110 x 95 cm; Lewis Doherty, ‘Carriage/Study for a Pattern’, 2025, bronze, casting remnants. 30 x 23.1 x 17 cm, unique; Isabella Kennedy, ‘swaddle/shroud’, 2024, inkjet print on Epson matte, 44 x 29.5 cm, edition of 3; Rachel Mackay, ‘Chimera 7’, 2025, oil on canvas, 91.4 x 61 cm; Megan McKenzie, ‘Float’, 2024, raku, stoneware and textured glazes, 70 x 30 x 30 cm (ceramics pieces only, height for suspension is variable); Johanna Ng, ‘a man holding a camera walks with a woman in front of an advertisement for carte bradesco’, 2024, from the series ‘Every Asian in Sex and the City’, inkjet print on clear film, inkjet print on cotton rag, 80.5 x 59.4 cm; Taylor Steel, ‘gathering dust’, 2024, polycarbonate, epoxy resin, toner, acetate, enamel, aluminium composite panel and stainless steel, aluminium frame, 31 x 25.5 cm; all images courtesy and © the artists

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Aug 30

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SMH: Why this class of 2021 has nothing to lose, and you should buy their work