Sydney Contemporary

Announcing the 56 finalists of the 24th Dobell Drawing Prize

The 24th edition will showcase the work of 56 finalists from 965 entries nationwide, selected by judging panel Vernon Ah Kee, Dr Yolunda Hickman and Paula Latos-Valier AM. Through works of various media – from coloured pencil, charcoal, chalk, watercolour and clay, to expanded materials such as human hair, rope, aluminium, LED, and video – they consider a range of themes including domesticity and social dynamics, environmental care, and impacts of climate change and colonisation. The 24th Dobell Prize will be curated by Lucy Latella and exhibited at the NAS Gallery Friday 11 April – Saturday 21 June 2025.

View the full list of finalists on the NAS website.

Images:
Margaret Ambridge, ‘Cheek by jowl’, 2024, charcoal and raindrops on paper, image courtesy and © the artist
Osvaldo Budet, ‘Black Boy Souvenir (detail)’, 2024, chromogenic print and ink handmade from Maitland coal on paper, image courtesy and © the artist
Tracey Clement, ‘Wear and Tear’, 2024, nylon tulle, polyester thread, cotton thread, glass, image courtesy and © the artist
Yvette Hamilton, ‘Afterglow’, 2024, fixed and unfixed photographic paper, LED rope, image courtesy and © the artist
Anke Klevjer, ‘Viewing at Sunset (detail)’, 2024, paper clay, underglaze pencil, paint, image courtesy and © the artist
Rosemary Lee, ‘24-1’, 2024, pencil on paper, image courtesy and © the artist
Jennifer Mills, ‘Head in hands’, 2023, watercolour and pencil on paper, image courtesy and © the artist
Michelle Molinari, ‘Postcards of the 21st century #I and #2 (detail)’, 2024, charcoal and chalk on velvet paper, image courtesy and © the artist
J9 Stanton, ‘Shadow of a disappearing landscape’, 2024, aluminium mesh, shadow, image courtesy and © the artist
Eamonn Jackson, ‘Aftermath’, 2021-2023, graphite on paper, image courtesy and © the artist

Introducing Katerina Asistin @katearts_, Gitte Backhausen @gittebackhausenart and Chaya Atkins @artbychaya, three of our graduating Painting BFA students, and their selected works (clockwise, L to R).
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Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
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Katerina Asistin, ‘Abandoned Trolley’, 2024, acrylic and oil on canvas, 56 x 41 x 2.5cm.
Gitte Backhausen, ‘It`s Just The Way It Is’, 2024, acrylic on repurposed stretched canvas, 102 x 102cm.
Chaya Atkins, ‘Supernova’, 2024, oil on found fabric, 50 x 75cm.
Portrait Photography: Jack Rockliffe @soybasedhacked
Artwork Photography: Jennifer Leahy @silversalt_photography

Introducing Stephanie Barakat @s.barakat.art, Laura Becket @micro___________0, Simona Boskovska @lines.and.shit and Isabella Bendeich @bella_bendeich, four of our graduating Painting BFA students, and their selected works (clockwise, L to R).
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Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
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Stephanie Barakat, ‘Ovarian Volcano’, 2024, oil on canvas, 31 x 27 x 4.2cm.
Laura Becket, ‘Carmelite’, 2024, resin and plaster on wooden relief, 39 x 29cm.
Simona Boskovska, ‘Azure interlude’, 2024, acrylic on canvas, 61 x 122cm.
Isabella Bendeich, ‘Treading Deep Waters’, 2024, oil on board, 61 x 81 x 3cm.
Portrait Photography: Jack Rockliffe @soybasedhacked
Artwork Photography: Jennifer Leahy @silversalt_photography

Introducing Cole Burgess, Olivia Campton-Smith @liv_campton, Francisca Carrasco-Reyes @francisca.carrey and Mitchell Caponas, four of our graduating Painting BFA students, and their selected works (clockwise, L to R).
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Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
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Cole Burgess, ‘Suffusion’, 2024, acrylic and masking tape on kraft paper, 63.6 x 87.2cm.
Olivia Campton-Smith, ‘Cocooning’, 2024, plaster, styrofoam, ink, water-soluble graphite, bondcrete, tissue paper, wire, encaustic, oils, 145 x 54 x 62cm.
Francisca Carrasco-Reyes, ‘Needle’, 2024, liquid latex, tape, acrylic, graphite and lace on timber frame, 38.5 x 35cm.
Mitchell Caponas, ‘Drudge’, 2024, oil on canvas, 157 x 139cm.
Portrait Photography: Jack Rockliffe @soybasedhacked
Artwork Photography: Jennifer Leahy @silversalt_photography

Introducing Shauna Carroll @shaun.acarroll, Ivy Casdagli, Harrison Chao @w4r.h4mm3r and Isabella Casella @bellacasella_, four of our graduating Painting BFA students, and their selected works (clockwise, L to R).
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Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
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Shauna Carroll, ‘Searching for Eurydice’, 2024, oil on board, 60cm diameter.
Ivy Casdagli, ‘Sans Teeth’, 2024, paperclay, foil and nylon, 19 x 9 x 12cm.
Harrison Chao, ‘LHO’, 2024, oil on linen, 40 x 50cm.
Isabella Casella, ‘Oblivion’, 2024, oil on board, 40.5 x 40.5cm.
Portrait Photography: Jack Rockliffe @soybasedhacked
Artwork Photography: Jennifer Leahy @silversalt_photography

Introducing Alex Coady @coadyalex, Alexandra Colvin @alexe_colvin, Maya Dabbs @dabbsart and Zac Costa Perazzo @z.c.p_, four of our graduating Painting BFA students, and their selected works (clockwise, L to R).
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Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
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Alex Coady, ‘Presence of absence’, 2024, acrylic on canvas.
Alexandra Colvin, ‘Woolshed Road’, 2024, oil and pastel on canvas, 160 x 135cm.
Maya Dabbs, ‘Last knight in Soho’, 2024, acrylic and marker on canvas, 76 x 50 x 3.5cm.
Zac Costa Perazzo, ‘Scout’, 2024, oil, wax and pastel on polycotton, 180 x 150cm.
Portrait Photography: Jack Rockliffe @soybasedhacked
Artwork Photography: Jennifer Leahy @silversalt_photography