Rosemary Lee wins 2025 Dobell Drawing Prize

The National Art School (NAS) has announced Rosemary Lee as the winner of the prestigious 24th Dobell Drawing Prize, Australia’s leading award for drawing. Lee was selected from 56 finalists and 965 entries nationwide, taking home the $30,000 prize for her work 24–1 (2024), a richly detailed coloured pencil drawing capturing scenes of construction and demolition in Sydney’s suburbs.

The judging panel — comprising artist Vernon Ah Kee, Paula Latos-Valier AM of the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation, and Dr Yolunda Hickman of NAS — said, “The decision to award the 24th Dobell Drawing Prize to Rosemary Lee for the work ‘24-1’ was unanimous… The artwork’s exploration of the urban landscape and gentrification of the Sydney suburbs of Ashfield and Summer Hill, has produced an image which combines two landscapes, a construction and a demolition site.”

They praised the piece’s “extraordinary detail,” vibrant colour, and conceptual strength, calling it, “an artwork for our times.”

Lee’s work now enters NAS’s significant collection, which spans more than 120 years. The winning piece is featured in the Dobell Drawing Prize exhibition, on view at NAS Gallery until 21 June 2025. Curated by Lucy Latella, the show spans diverse media — from pencil and watercolour to LED and video — with themes ranging from climate change to community and colonisation.

Dr Kristen Sharp, NAS Director and CEO, said, “As one of Australia’s leading platforms for contemporary drawing, the Dobell Prize highlights the exceptional skills, innovations and diverse practices that are transforming the role of the medium in contemporary art.”

Presented in partnership with the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation, the biennial prize continues to champion technical mastery and innovation in drawing.

For exhibition details, visit the NAS website.