Finalists Announced for Inaugural $100,000 Ramsay Art Prize

Twenty-one finalists have been selected for the inaugural Ramsay Art Prize, Australia's richest prize for young contemporary artists. The finalists are:

Tony Albert (NSW)

Khadim Ali (NSW)

Jacobus Capone (WA)

Celeste Chandler (VIC)

Sarah Contos (NSW)

Georgina Cue (VIC)

Keg de Souza (NSW)

Julie Fragar (QLD)

Teelah George (WA)

Natalya Hughes (NSW)

Trent Jansen (NSW)

Ash Keating (VIC)

Owen Leong (NSW)

Vincent Namatjira (SA)

Joey Nganjmirra (NT)

Baden Pailthorpe (NSW)

Clare Peake (WA)

Jason Phu (NSW)

Rebecca Selleck (ACT)

James Tylor (SA)

Justine Varga (NSW)

Art Gallery of South Australia, Director, Nick Mitzevich said 'The Ramsay Art Prize is an important legacy project for the Art Gallery of South Australia that we hope will build confidence in Australian art, foster young talent and change the way young artists are valued in the canon of contemporary art.'

Over 450 artists under the age of forty submitted entries for the 2017 Ramsay Art Prize. The twenty-one finalists were selected by a judging panel of contemporary art specialists including Director of the Auckland Art Gallery, Rhana Devenport, Australian artist Nell and the Art Gallery of South Australia's inaugural Curator of Contemporary Art, Leigh Robb.

All works selected as finalists will be exhibited in a major exhibition at the Art Gallery of South Australia from 27 May to 27 August 2017. The winner will be judged from the exhibition and announced on Friday 26 May.

2017 Ramsay Art Prize finalists are also eligible for a People's Choice Prize supported by sponsors Lipman Karas. Visitors to the exhibition can have their say and kick start an ambitious artist's career by casting their vote and awarding them a $15,000 cash prize. The People's Choice Prize is non-acquisitive.

For further information on 2017 Ramsay Art Prize finalists, exhibition and Lipman Karas People's Choice Prize visit www.artgallery.sa.gov.au/ramsay.

A new $100,000 acquisitive visual arts prize, the Ramsay Art Prize invites submissions of new work by Australian artists under the age of 40 working in any medium, including sculpture, painting, drawing, photography, installation and the moving image.

Presented by the Art Gallery of South Australia and supported in perpetuity by the James & Diana Ramsay Foundation, the Ramsay Art Prize aims to support and encourage contemporary Australian artists to make their best work at a pivotal moment in their career.

The Ramsay Art Prize is held every two years. The finalists and winner are selected by an international judging panel. http://ramsay.artgallery.sa.gov.au

Winner Announced + Media Preview | Friday 26 May 2017 at 11am
Official Opening | Friday 26 May 2017 at 6pm
Exhibition Season | Saturday 27 May to Sunday 27 August 2017, daily 10am to 5pm
People's Choice Prize Announced | Friday 11 August 2017