Eight artists awarded the ninth annual Macquarie Group Emerging Artist Prize

Eight emerging visual artists have been awarded the 2020 Macquarie Group Emerging Artist Prize, which was announced at a virtual event last night. This year, due to the challenges of COVID-19, Macquarie Group is supporting more emerging artists by selecting multiple winners.

Now in its ninth year, the Macquarie Group Emerging Artist Prize recognises a new generation of Australian visual artists. Artists in the early stage of their careers were invited to enter up to five original works that reflect the Macquarie Group Collection’s theme The Land and its Psyche.

The winners, in alphabetical order, are:

• Katie Banakh, Victoria
• Victoria Hempstead, NSW
• Mahala Hill, ACT
• Emma Itzstein, Victoria
• George Kennedy, Tasmania
• Katie Stewart, NSW
• Joanne Wheeler, Central Australia
• Myles Young, NSW

Each of these artists receives $A5,000 prize money and a $A1,000 art transport voucher from International Art Services.

Director of the Macquarie Group Collection, Helen Burton, said: “Congratulations to all the winners for creating such inspiring art. At a time when communities around the world are facing many challenges, we acknowledge now more than ever the important contributions of art and artists, and the enrichment their work brings to their communities.”

“The exceptional quality of the winners’ works reflects the depth of talent to be found among Australia’s next generation of visual artists.

I also acknowledge everyone who entered the Prize. Thank you for sharing your artistic talent.”

The works submitted by the eight winners are available to view and purchase in the online exhibition.

About the Macquarie Group Collection

The Macquarie Group Collection has supported emerging Australian visual artists for over 30 years. With the theme The Land and its Psyche, the Collection comprises more than 850 works by artists who, at the time their work was acquired, were in the early stages of their career. Acquisitions are made by a committee of volunteer Macquarie staff and a curatorial consultant. 

Works in the Macquarie Group Collection are exhibited in more than 40 Macquarie Group offices worldwide and periodically loaned to public institutions. 

To learn more about the Collection, visit our website and follow us on Instagram: @macquarieart