Roberta Joy Rich, M/other Land (video still), 2018. Multichannel HD video installation, 21:24 min. Courtesy: the artist, Lyndon Campbell, and the Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane.

Since its inception at the Anglican Church Grammar School in 1987, the churchie emerging art prize has sought to identify and profile rising artistic talent. It is now known as one of Australia’s leading prizes for emerging artists. Presented at the Institute of Modern Art since 2019, the finalists’ exhibition surveys the compelling and diverse work being produced by early-career artists today.

Curated by Sebastian Henry-Jones, this year’s exhibition spans painting, sculpture, video, drawing, printmaking and photography and explores the theme of context, recognising that an artist’s practice does not only occur in the studio, but is also inherently linked to time and place.

Thanks to generous supporters, ‘the churchie’ offers a prize pool of $25,000, with the Major Prize winner receiving a non-acquisitive $15,000 cash prize donated by long-standing sponsor, BSPN Architecture.

The thirteen finalists will have their work exhibited at the IMA, with the Prize Announcement taking place at the gallery on Friday 2 June.

Exhibited artists include: Alrey Batol, Amanda Bennetts, Dylan Bolger, Luke Brennan, Matthew Brown, Raf McDonald, Corben Mudjandi, Melody Paloma, Roberta Joy Rich, Joel Spring, Jess Tan, Debbie Taylor-Worley and Ash Tower.