ADELAIDE.- The Art Gallery of South Australia announced twenty-three finalists have been selected for the Ramsay Art Prize 2019, a $100,000 acquisitive prize for contemporary Australian artists under the age of forty. The finalists are:

Liam Benson (NSW) • Jessica Bradford (NSW) • Ry David Bradley (VIC) • Eric Bridgeman (QLD) • Lina Buck (VIC) • Dale Collier (NSW) • Julia deVille (VIC) • Kuba Dorabialski (NSW) • Emily Ferretti (VIC) • Tom Freeman (WA) • Tarryn Gill (WA) • Nathan Hawkes (NSW) • Sophia Hewson (VIC) • Hayley Millar-Baker (VIC) • Viv Miller (VIC) • Pierre Mukeba (SA) • Vincent Namatjira (SA) • Phuong Ngo (VIC) • Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran (NSW) • Jahnne Pasco-White (VIC) • Huseyin Sami (NSW) • Isadora Vaughan (VIC) • Sera Waters (SA)

AGSA Director, Rhana Devenport ONZM, says, ‘We are thrilled to present the second iteration of the important Ramsay Art Prize. This year’s finalists are testament to the energetic pulse of contemporary Australian art, and we are excited to celebrate the vision and ingenuity of artists from across the country at AGSA.’

James and Diana Ramsay Foundation Executive Director, Kerry de Lorme, says, ‘The James and Diana Ramsay Foundation is committed to fostering excellence and accessibility in the arts. The Ramsay Art Prize embodies these values and much more, providing all 23 finalists with a professional platform upon which to test their best work. Furthermore, the Prize will bring new audiences to art, and new art to audiences, in perpetuity as a result of the generous legacy of visionaries, James and Diana.

Over 350 artists under the age of forty submitted entries for the Ramsay Art Prize 2019. The twenty-three finalists were selected by a judging panel of contemporary art specialists including Russell Storer, Deputy Director (Curatorial and Research), National Gallery of Singapore, Richard Lewer, contemporary artist, and Dr Lisa Slade, Assistant Director, Artistic Programs, Art Gallery of South Australia.

All works selected as finalists will be exhibited in a major exhibition at the Art Gallery of South Australia from 25 May to 25 August 2019. The winner will be announced on Friday 24 May 2019. The winning work will be acquired into the Gallery’s collection.

The Ramsay Art Prize 2019 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.