The Art Gallery of South Australia today announced the twenty-four finalists who have been selected for the Ramsay Art Prize 2021 - a $100,000 acquisitive prize for contemporary Australian artists under the age of forty.

Congratulations to Dr Ella Barclay (Lecturer in Photography & Media Arts), Dean Cross (ANU alumnus) and Dr Anna Madeleine Raupach (Lecturer in Printmedia & Drawing), who are amongst the finalists.

More than 350 artists under the age of forty submitted entries for the Ramsay Art Prize 2021. The selected finalists have created compelling works of art that probe society today using a variety of mediums. This year’s finalists were selected by a judging panel of contemporary art specialists comprised of Wiradjuri artist Karla Dickens, Dr Daniel Mudie Cunningham, Director of Programs at Carriageworks and Rebecca Evans, Curator of Decorative Arts & Design at AGSA.

AGSA Director, Rhana Devenport ONZM, says, ‘We are thrilled to present contemporary talent from every state and territory for the first time in the third iteration of the Ramsay Art Prize. AGSA continues its championing of contemporary art practice in this exhibition that celebrates the energetic pulse of artistic practice in Australia right now.’

James & Diana Ramsay Foundation Executive Director, Kerry de Lorme, says, ‘The Ramsay Art Prize embodies the James & Diana Ramsay Foundation’s values, offering career-defining opportunities to artists and bringing new art to audiences at AGSA, thanks to the generous legacy of visionaries, James and Diana.’

All works selected as finalists will be exhibited in a major exhibition at AGSA from 22 May until 22 August 2021. The winner will be judged from the exhibition and announced to the finalists and media at a media preview on Friday 21 May 2021. The winning work will also be acquired into AGSA’s collection.

The Ramsay Art Prize 2021 finalist exhibition will include a People’s Choice Prize supported by sponsor Lipman Karas. The People’s Choice Prize is a non-acquisitive cash prize of $15,000 chosen by a public vote and announced on Friday 13 August 2021.

About the prize:

A $100,000 acquisitive visual arts prize, the Ramsay Art Prize invites submissions of new work by Australian artists under the age of 40 working in any medium, including sculpture, painting, drawing, photography, installation and the moving image.

Presented by the Art Gallery of South Australia and supported in perpetuity by the James & Diana Ramsay Foundation, the Ramsay Art Prize aims to support and encourage contemporary Australian artists to make their best work at a pivotal moment in their career.

The Ramsay Art Prize is held every two years. The finalists and winner are selected by an esteemed judging panel.