Seven early-career visual artists have been shortlisted for the 2026 NSW Visual Arts Fellowship (Emerging).

Virginia Keft, Charles Levi, Tia Madden, Amelia Skelton, Sue Jo Wright and collaborative duo Natasha Dubler and Caitlin Dubler, have been selected as finalists to present work in 2026 for the prestigious fellowship program, culminating in a highly-anticipated exhibition at Artspace in July.

The annual NSW Visual Arts Fellowship (Emerging) program, delivered in partnership between Artspace and Create NSW, has been a long-standing and successful platform for nurturing NSW’s emerging visual artists.

With mentorship and support from Artspace’s curatorial team, the seven artists will present work to a panel, earning them valuable feedback and engagement with the contemporary visual art sector and with wider audiences through the 2026 NSW Visual Arts Fellowship (Emerging) exhibition.

One finalist will be selected to receive the $30,000 Fellowship to undertake a 12-month self-directed professional development program to further challenge and expand their practice. The Fellowship recipient will be announced at the official opening of the 2026 NSW Visual Arts Fellowship (Emerging) exhibition in July 2026.

Recent recipients of the Fellowship include Ali Tahayori (2025) Gillian Kayrooz (2024), Morgan Hogg (2023), Eddie Abd (2022), and Dennis Golding (2020).

Create NSW Executive Director Kerri Glasscock said: “Congratulations to this year’s impressive shortlist - Natasha and Caitlin Dubler, Virginia Keft, Charles Levi, Tia Madden, Amelia Skelton and Sue Jo Wright. It’s wonderful to see such high-calibre talent spanning diverse and dynamic practices, which carries on the 125-year legacy of this prestigious fellowship program.

“Guided by Artspace’s curatorial expertise and mentorship, this fellowship provides a pivotal opportunity for these artists to develop their practice and step into the spotlight to showcase the future of NSW contemporary visual art.”

Victor Wang, Executive Director, Artspace said: “Artspace is incredibly proud to continue our long-term partnership with Create NSW on a fellowship that champions the next generation of artists.

“At Artspace, that’s our whole mission — standing with artists from the very beginning and walking with them as their practices grow, morph, and leap into new territory.

“This year’s finalists embody a remarkable shift in how emerging practitioners are thinking with materials and the poetics of the sensory. We’re excited to work closely with them as the 2026 exhibition takes shape.”