From over 450 entries, 21 finalists have been selected for the $100,000 Ramsay Art Prize, Australia’s richest prize for young contemporary artists, under 40 working in any medium.
Selected by a judging panel of contemporary art specialists – including Director of the Auckland Art Gallery, Rhana Devenport, Australian artist, Nell and the Art Gallery of South Australia’s Curator of Contemporary Art, Leigh Robb – the 2017 finalists are: Tony Albert (NSW), Khadim Ali (NSW), Jacobus Capone (WA), Celeste Chandler (VIC), Sarah Contos (NSW), Georgina Cue (VIC), Keg de Souza (NSW), Julie Fragar (QLD), Teelah George (WA), Natalya Hughes (NSW), Trent Jansen (NSW), Ash Keating (VIC), Owen Leong (NSW), Vincent Namatjira (SA), Joey Nganjmirra (NT), Baden Pailthorpe (NSW), Clare Peake (WA), Jason Phu (NSW), Rebecca Selleck (ACT), James Tylor (SA) and Justine Varga (NSW).
Celeste Chandler, Australia, born 1977, Heroic Painting, 2016, oil on linen, 330 x 220cm. Photograph: Matthew Stanton. Courtesy the artist and Nicholas Thompson Gallery, Melbourne.
Rebecca Selleck, Australia, born 1986, Lapin Plague, 2016, found rabbit skin coats, found carpet and underlay, found chairs, electrics, heat conductive wiring, steel, polyester, synthetic stuffing, enamel paint, plywood, dimensions variable. Courtesy the artist.
The finalists will be exhibited in an exhibition at the Art Gallery of South Australia from 27 May to 27 August 2017 with the winner announced on Friday 26 May at 11am.
2017 Ramsay Art Prize finalists are also eligible for a $15,000 non-acquisitive People’s Choice Prize supported by sponsors Lipman Karas.
Owen Leong, Australia, born 1979, Sankalpa, 2016, archival pigment print on cotton paper, 120 x 120 cm; Courtesy of the artist and Artereal Gallery, Sydney.
