The 2024 Tim Olsen Drawing Prize
UNSW School of Art & Design proudly presents The 2024 Tim Olsen Drawing Prize
Congratulations to the 20 current students selected as finalists:
Tash Brobyn, Jess Curran, Cleo Ding, Remy Faint, Maitê Feijó, Veronica Frost, Jade Gillis, Kristy Gordon, Deanna Hegner, Abbey Hiscocks, Aaron Kennedy, Elijah Kinnavong, Tia Madden, Lucy McLauchlan, Aya Nomoto, Emily Naya Schorowsky, Jeremy Smith, Monica Trieu, Elizabeth Wawn, Ada Eni (Ernie) Xu
Judges
, Founder and Director, Olsen Gallery
Dr Rebecca Shanahan, Lecturer, UNSW School of Art & Design
View the online exhibition below, or in person at from 25 September - 4 October 2024. Â
Winner: Remy Faint
Remy Faint is the winner of the 2024 Tim Olsen Drawing Prize for their work Inscriptions (Finials and Silk).
The judges remarked:
We were immediately drawn to this work, to its striking visual strength and conviction, as well as its playful conceptual layering. There is a whimsical interrogation of disparate materials, how they can exist together, formally and physically, in a work. There are multiple readings occurring at once, various languages pull in different directions. The work is very much about drawing but expands that into notions of the trace and artefact, and how we think through memory, migration and time. The artist shows a real innovation for materiality, the work is bold while intricate, and keeps revealing new visual possibilities and futures.
Highly commended: Maitê Feijó
The judges highly commended Maitê Feijó for their work Untitled.
The judges noted:
These two subtle, small drawings, demand attention and affection from their viewer at once. The artist was able to ask questions about how we represent the complexity of the human body while also making us think about touch, and our relationship to other bodies as well as our own. The work demonstrates mature attention, mastery of skill within a committed range of tonality, and conscious consideration to scale. The drawing holds a delightful sensibility, feeling selfless while poignant at the same time.
Highly commended: Kristy Gordon
Kristy Gordon was also highly commended for their work Water Drawings.
The judges commented:
This work is beautifully understated. It is nuanced, quiet; simple while confident. The artist demonstrates a mastery of representing line and thinking through drawing in two-dimensional through to three-dimensional forms, making her viewers slow down, and unravel deeply and personally with otherwise abstract visual imagery. The work moves the viewer to think about image and form, object and shadow, light and colour at once. The installation is immaculate and delightful.
Please note that some of the artworks in this exhibition engage with themes and imagery that could cause discomfort or be triggering for some.
Finalists
The Tim Olsen Drawing Prize celebrates students who use drawing as a significant part of their artistic practice. This prize has been continuously supported by for over 20 years, encouraging and supporting young and emerging artists to build careers as professional practicing artists.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the 2024 Prize: Katrina Arent, Ant Bannister, Consuelo Cavaniglia, Denis Cooper, Dr Fernando do Campo, Dr David Eastwood, Dr Michael Garbutt, Louise Gilligan, Fergus Grealy, Alana Hunt, Bernadette Hunter, Melinda Holcombe, Dr Spence Messih, Dr Clare Milledge, Rory Moy, Kerryn Plummer, Darian Popowicz, Prof Ed Scheer, Carmen Schieb, Kurt Schranzer, Dr Rebecca Shanahan, Peter Sharp, Steven Shears, Emma Snowden, Dr Grant Stevens
Acknowledgement of Country
UNSW School of Art & Design stands on an important place of learning and exchange first occupied by the Bidjigal and Gadigal peoples.
We acknowledge the Bidjigal and Gadigal peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land that our students and staff share, create and operate on. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and extend this respect to all First Nations peoples across Australia. Sovereignty has never been ceded.
