Western Australia’s Emerging Artists Shine at South Perth Art Award

The City of South Perth held its highly anticipated 2024 Emerging Artist Award ceremony on Thursday 17 October, showcasing the best of Western Australia’s emerging artistic talent.

Bringing together 105 finalists selected from 225 entries, the evening was a celebration of the creativity, innovation, and expression that makes this Emerging Artist Award so important to the WA arts community.

Major prize winner announced: Scott Price

Above: 2024 Emerging Artist Award winner Scott Price stands with his winning artwork

Scott Price took home the $5,000 major prize and a solo exhibition opportunity for his striking site-specific piece: ‘Radial mapping of seasonal pool furthest inland extending from Avon River to Walyunga Pool, March-April 2024’.

The judging panel praised Price for his innovative artistic process, which involved working directly within Walyunga National Park, dragging paper through the landscape to reflect seasonal changes.

Featuring varied media that included natural ochres, carbonised wood, and river water, Price’s work was both a visual masterpiece and a tactile collaboration with nature, earning him the top prize in a fiercely competitive field. To top off a very successful evening for Price, it was announced that the City of South Perth would also be acquiring this artwork for its permanent art collection.

Above: Scott Price’s winning artwork, 2024 Emerging Artist Award 

Mayor Greg Milner praised the event’s role in fostering the local arts scene,

“The City of South Perth is proud to support emerging talent. These awards provide artists with the platform to showcase their incredible creativity, which strengthens our vibrant arts community.

“This year, we’ve also seen a record-breaking number of entries, showing just how much art truly matters to our local community. It’s a powerful reminder of the way creativity connects and inspires us and continues to shape the vibrant culture we’re so proud of here in South Perth,” said Mayor Milner.

The exhibition is open to the public from 18 October to 26 October, giving the local community the chance to engage with and invest in the works of WA’s latest wave of top creative talent.

Attendees can also participate in the People’s Choice Award, sponsored by Soco Realty, where the winner will receive $750 and have a large-scale print of their work pasted up in the Carpark Gallery at Coles on Angelo Street in South Perth.

Further prizes awarded

Additional award winners were also announced on the night:

• First Nations Artist Award, sponsored by John Curtin Gallery: Dena Gower for Noongar Boodja
• Secondary School Artist Award, sponsored by Preston Street IGA: Ben Ioannou for The Heart
• City of South Perth Resident Award, sponsored by Geoff Baker MLA: Erin Knight for Squasha
• Young Artist Award, sponsored by Village Green: Lucas Downs for Boing Boing
• Local Theme Award, sponsored by Karalee on Preston: Ava Donovan for Submerged Reflections
• Sculpture/Textiles Award, sponsored by Liquor Barons on Angelo: Rose Fetwadjieff for Souvenir 
• Works on Paper Award, sponsored by the City of South Perth: Veta Holmes for Going, Going, Gone! 
• Painting Award, sponsored by White Frame: Jules Bulleid for Persistence of Time and Truth

Comments from the judging panel

This year's judging panel included:

• Ross Potter: A highly regarded Western Australian artist known for his meticulous graphite works on paper. Ross has completed numerous residencies and exhibitions, frequently exploring the theme of natural decay.
• Ron Bradfield Jr: A respected storyteller and artist from Bardi Country, Ron facilitates cultural conversations across Australia through his work with Yarns R Us.
• Corine Van Hall: A leading arts advocate and curator, Corine has worked extensively to open up creative opportunities for emerging artists in WA.

Ross Potter commented on the quality of this year’s entries that “such a high calibre of work in this year’s Emerging Artist Award makes us excited for the future of Perth’s art scene.”

The judging panel also highlighted the contributions of young artists, with Ron Bradfield Jr remarking, “the young people’s artwork in this exhibition has truly shone. It’s a great indicator of the talent coming through."

Corine Van Hall also noted how much diversity showed through the 105 works exhibited. “The works are incredibly strong and varied, exploring a great range of thought and mediums,” Van Hall said.

For over two decades, the City of South Perth Emerging Artist Award has provided a platform for new artists to gain recognition and engage with the public, ensuring the continued growth of Western Australia’s dynamic arts scene.

Don't miss the Emerging Artist Exhibition

Don't miss the 2024 Emerging Artist Exhibition, 18–26 October 2024, 10am–4pm daily at South Perth Community Hall. The exhibition is free to enter, and many of the works will be listed for sale.