Sydney Morning Herald – Jane Grealy Wins 23rd Dobell Drawing Prize

Sydney Morning Herald – Jane Grealy Wins 23rd Dobell Drawing Prize

Nick Galvin, Sydney Morning Herald Arts Editor, writes on Jane Grealy’s Dobell Prize Winning work, Maria’s Garden, Scheme C.

“One morning eight years ago, Jane Grealy was standing in her backyard looking vaguely over the fence into her neighbour’s lush garden, contemplating what the future might hold. She’d just recovered from a debilitating illness and knew she didn’t want to return to her job as an architectural illustrator.

“I thought ‘well, I’ll draw that,’” she says. “It’s a very complex garden. And that, I guess, was the start of it.”

Eight years and many, many drawings later, one of Grealy’s drawings of Maria’s garden has won the $30,000 acquisitive Dobell Prize for Drawing, presented by the National Art School.”

Image: Jane Grealy pictured by Steven Siewert.

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We are pleased to announce that applications are now open for the Prudence MacLeod Prize. 

The Prudence MacLeod Prize, which will continue for a further three years, supports a recent National Art School graduate to undertake a six-month residency at @acme.art, London.

Supported by the Lansdowne Foundation, the Prize provides an emerging artist with an opportunity to step forward into an expanded, international context at a vital time in their career. The artist will live and work in London, one of the world's great art cities, in a supportive artist community. This important opportunity will enable the artist to forge professional international contacts, explore London's art world and rich cultural resources, and produce a new body of work.

The recipient of this Prize will receive:
– Return travel to London. To be arranged for the artist by NAS.
– Studio accommodation and workspace at Acme Studios for 6 months.
– Living stipend of $AUD3,500 per month for 6 months. Total $AUD21,000.

Application deadline: Sunday 1 February 2026, 11.59pm
Residency: Monday 6 July – Friday 18 December 2026

The Prudence MacLeod Prize is open to eligible NAS alumni who have graduated within the past five years and meet the selection criteria.

Learn more 🔗 in bio. 

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Acme Fire Station, 30 Gillender Street, 1999 © Acme Archive
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the opening of The Grad Show!

Find works by this year's cohort exhibited throughout the NAS campus until 14 December. Open daily from 11am — 5pm and until 9pm on Fridays. 

View online via 🔗 in bio.

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Video: Tim Connolly
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