QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA.- Fresh new work by eight young artists are showcased in the Queensland Art Gallery exhibition ‘Prime 2005: New Art from Queensland’. The exhibition will be shown until 12 June and featured a program of artists’ talks during National Youth Week.

Arts Minister Anna Bligh said ‘Prime 2005: New Art from Queensland’ reflected the Queensland Art Gallery’s commitment to working with young artists and young audiences.

'The exhibition is the fourth event in the Gallery’s annual Prime series, staged to coincide with National Youth Week,’ she said.

Queensland Art Gallery Director Doug Hall said the artists to be presented in ‘Prime 2005: New Art from Queensland’ were Daniel Templeman, Alasdair Macintyre, Jemima Wyman, Peter Alwast, Chris Handran, Natalya Hughes, Sandra Selig and Grant Stevens.

‘These eight artists have been selected to showcase some of the freshest work by young artists working in Queensland at the moment,’ Mr Hall said.

‘The works will be new, specially commissioned or will be exhibited for the first time.’

The works include a major sculpture by Daniel Templeman, and paintings by Jemima Wyman, Peter Alwast and Natalya Hughes.

‘Prime 2005’ also features an installation and new works on paper by Sandra Selig, photographs by Chris Handran, a new video work by Grant Stevens and a series of sculptural works by Alasdair Macintyre.

Mr Hall said the Prime series was part of a wider program of support and assistance for young artists and young audiences.

’The Gallery’s work in this area includes the Melville Haysom Memorial Art Scholarship, the “Education Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Art” exhibition, the Starter Space young artists exhibition program, and the New Wave program of creative and contemporary programs for tertiary students,’ he said.