2025 NSW Visual Arts Fellowship Reveals Next Generation

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In Australia, the NSW Government announced the artists shortlisted for its annual NSW Visual Arts Fellowship (Emerging) on 28 November, presented with non-profit organisation Artspace in Sydney.

The AUD $30,000 award was conceived to provide an early career artist in New South Wales the chance to undertake self-directed professional development with the support of Artspace’s curatorial team.

The six finalists this year are Ellen Ferrier, Ellie Hannon, Ali Noble, Vedika Rampal, Joel Sherwood Spring, and Ali Tahayori. Their work will be featured in a group exhibition at Artspace next August, during which the winner will be announced.

‘This is really an opportunity for them to build new networks, develop skills, and present their work in a generative, inspiring, and professional environment,’ said Michelle Newton, Interim Director at Artspace.

Last year, the award went to Gillian Kayrooz for her community-engaged practice that seeks to introduce a bottom-up view of history.

More about the six finalists

Ellen Ferrier creates installations using local and organic materials, including weeds, sheep intestines, and raw wool. Ellie Hannon‘s work draws from her involvement in community projects to address personal and political issues in relation to place.

Ali Noble‘s practice seeks to subvert pressures of standardisation and homogeneity, relying on strategies of enchantment and sensuality to combat erasure. Vedika Rampal works across sculpture, textiles, photography, and text to interrogate Western museological practices.

Wiradjuri artist Joel Sherwood Spring examines contested narratives from Australian and Indigenous history, and efforts toward reparations. Iranian artist Ali Tahayori treats issues of displacement and queerness across photography, moving image, and installation. —[O]

Main image: (Clockwise): Ellen Ferrier, Photo: Kristen Augeard; Ellie Hannon, Photo: Bonnie-Grace Dwyer; Ali Noble, Photo: Richard Healey-Finlay; Vedika Rampal, Photo: Liam Macann; Joel Sherwood Spring, SAVAGE SYSTEMSTM (2024) (still). Courtesy the artist; Ali Tahayori, Photo: Jacquie Manning.