“Good artists copy, great artists steal,” is a familiar aphorism most often attributed to Picasso.
But a new exhibition at the National Art School takes the concept further, focusing on artists who happily “steal”, but then flaunt rather than disguise their creative larceny.
Artist Louise Paramor with her work. Photo: Janie Barrett
Last night we celebrated the recipients of the 2025 National Art School Fellowship, leading Australian artists Cressida Campbell AM and Guido Maestri. NAS Director and CEO Dr Kristen Sharp noted “both Campbell’s and Maestri’s life and work have an enduring impact on the arts in Australia and continue to inspire the students at the National Art School.”
Cressida Campbell said of the award “I am really honoured to become a Fellow of the National Art School. Most artists in any field have nervous temperaments and to start your creative life within the beautiful sandstone walls of the National Art School amongst supportive souls is a great start to wherever your life takes you.”
Guido Maestri stated “It’s an incredible honour to be added as a Fellow among such inspiring artists that I respect and have admired for so long. There is a momentum and energy that I got from my time at the National Art School that is still with me today.”
May 23
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.
May 22
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
May 21
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
May 21
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
May 19
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.
May 10
