On show from 12 September - 28 September, the inaugural UMSU Art Prize is a major new initiative that celebrates the legacy of student unionism in Australia and the power of student voices.
Exhibition duration: 12-28 September
The UMSU Art Award has been established to provide a platform for bold, critical, and experimental artistic practices, highlighting the vibrant creativity of our student community.
UMSU Art Prize WINNER: Justine Walsh, for their work Balm (2023)
People's Choice Award: Patriot Mukmin
The shortlisted artists for the UMSU Art Prize are: Alex Saveski, Alexandra Spalding, Allison Duong, Antigone Yannoulidis, Antoinette Armstrong, Caoife Power, Felix Oliver, Greta Jakob, Hannah Ogawa, Hootan Heydari, Isaac Lizardo, Ishika Kinzel, Jin Hin Wong, Jincheng Deng, Jordan Morise, Juliet Phraser, Keiran Molaeb, Kexin Li, Kim Feng Cheong, Kyle Stanton, Lan Anh Truong, Lane Matthews, Laura Saleh, Lewis Egan, Liam Denny, Lily Hogan, Maddison Wandel, Mae Czechowski, Mary Nguyen, Morgandy Walker, Natasha Jol, Nawshaba Ahmed, Oliver Henry, Patriot Mukmin, Rachel Gresswell, Rachel Rovira, Samuel Holleran, Sean Monaghan, Stefa Panoschi, Tamara Chichaeva, Taner Ates, Teona Yamanidze, Thanh Huong Hang Le, Xana Jensson, Yoria Shi, Yun-Chien Cho, Zachary Beven, and Ziyi Wei.
The UMSU Art Prize offers two prestigious awards:
Shortlisted artists will have their artworks displayed in the George Paton Gallery for the UMSU Art Prize 2024 exhibition, 12-28 September. The George Paton Gallery has played a pivotal role in the development and presentation of contemporary art in Australia for over 50 years.
Student unions have historically been centres of radical creativity and subversive artistic expression. By advocating for student voices and freedom of expression, student unions provide the support and resources necessary to test conventional boundaries and engage with social, political, and cultural issues. This tradition of nurturing daring and transformative art has enriched the academic environment and significantly influenced the contemporary art landscape beyond the campus.