2025 Emerging Artist Award Exhibition

The City’s Emerging Artist Award 2025 Exhibition will be open to the public for viewing and sales from Friday 10 October – Saturday 18 October 2025 at the South Perth Community Hall. The exhibition provides a great opportunity to see new works by talented emerging artists. Visitors to the exhibition can purchase artworks and nominate their favourite artwork in the Soco Realty People’s Choice Award.

A series of associated art events will be held during the exhibition period. 

The Emerging Artist Award, with a prize pool of over $15,000, provides emerging artists of all ages an opportunity to exhibit their work to the wider community.

Exhibition hours

10.00am–4.00pm daily

Have your say and vote in the Soco Realty People's Choice Award

Voting will commence at the Awards Ceremony on Thursday 9 October 2025 and will conclude on Saturday 18 October 2025. All artworks in the exhibition will be considered for this award. The People’s Choice Award will be presented to the artwork that receives the most public votes during the exhibition.

The winner of the People’s Choice Award will be announced via the City’s website and other channels after the exhibition. The People’s Choice winning artwork will be reproduced in large scale and pasted up in the under croft carpark at Coles Supermarkets at Angelo Street, alongside previous winners.

Judges

RON BRADFIELD JR

Ron Bradfield Jr is a saltwater man from Bardi Country in Broome who grew up in Nhanda Country, Geraldton and now lives in Whadjuk Boodjar (Perth). Having worked across the arts in regional and metropolitan Western Australia for over 15 years as an artist, storyteller and facilitator, Ron curates cultural conversations across all levels of our communities. Currently Ron is the CYO (Chief Yarning Officer) of Yarns R Us and the Community Engagement Coordinator - Carrolup Centre for Truth-telling, (John Curtin Gallery) Curtin University.

ABDUL-RAHMAN ABDULLAH

Abdul-Rahman Abdullah is an artist living on Bindjareb Nyungar country, on a cattle farm in the Peel region of Western Australia. Working primarily in sculpture and installation, he explores the intersections of identity, culture and the natural world. Living and working in an agricultural environment, his practice offers alternative perspectives across diverse, and often disparate communities.

CORINE VAN HALL

Corine is a Director and Lead Public Art Consultant at Indarra, and is a founding director of the Fremantle Biennale. She specialises in delivering complex public art commissions and her portfolio includes state and local governments, festivals, and private developers. As a consultant for the WA Government Percent for Art Scheme, Corine works all over the state and directly with many of WA’s contemporary visual artists.

Curator

Ron Nyisztor

Ron’s contributions to the arts, both as a curator and practicing artist, have been significant. His works are held and exhibited in collections nationally and internationally and has held many curatorial positions at leading galleries and institutions throughout his career. Ron is the founder and director of Nyisztor Studio, an artist-run initiative in formerly in Melville, now in Essex St Fremantle.

Sponsors

• Emerging Artist Award $5,000 | Sponsored by Rosalin Sadler
• Local Theme Award $1,000 | Sponsored by Karalee on Preston
• Resident Award $1,000 | Sponsored by Geoff Baker MLA
• Secondary School Artist Award $1,000 | Sponsored by Preston Street IGA
• Young Artist Award $1,000 | City of South Perth
• First Nations Artist Award $1,000 | Sponsored by John Curtin Gallery
• Painting Award $1,000
| Sponsored by White Frame
• Sculpture/Textiles Award $1,000
| Sponsored by Liquor Barons on Angelo
• Works on Paper Award $1,000
| Sponsored by Allan Herbert Sadler
• People’s Choice Award $1,000 | Sponsored by SOCO Realty