Emerging visual artists shine at TRAG’s Creative Generation Excellence Awards exhibition

The creative talents of Darling Downs and South West Queensland secondary school students feature in Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery’s (TRAG) annual Creative Generation – Excellence Awards in Visual Art 2023 exhibition that is on display until October 15, 2023.

The exhibition has been a feature on the Gallery’s calendar since 1990 and highlights artwork by senior visual art students from Queensland state and non-state schools.

This regional exhibition displays 47 artworks by senior high school visual art students representing 19 schools across the Darling Downs and South West Queensland.

From the 47 submissions, the following awards were announced: One Regional Encouragement Award, 13 commendations and seven excellence winners.

Commendation recipients: Bibi Akter (Lockyer District State High School), Georgia Boyd (St Ursula's College - Toowoomba), Sabella Farr (Lockyer District State High School), Ruben Fitton (Toowoomba Grammar School), Noah Gunders (Mary MacKillop Catholic College - Highfields), Madison Keep (Lockyer District State High School), Ava Knihinicki (Mary MacKillop Catholic College - Highfields), Kyra Lloyd (Goondiwindi State High School), Rachel McLatchey (Toowoomba Christian College - Highfields), Laura Patterson (Fairholme College - Toowoomba), Jasmine Stewart (St Ursula's College - Toowoomba), Asher Vandersee (Toowoomba Christian College - Highfields) and Erin Ziesemer (Pittsworth State High School).

Excellence award recipients: Russell Cooper (Pittsworth State High School), Maggie Lattimore (Fairholme College), Alyssa McDonald Smith (Fairholme College), Hope Morgan (Highlands Christian College - Toowoomba), Ben Rosenberg (Toowoomba Grammar School), Sydney Twidale (Goondiwindi State High School) and Connor Williams (Centenary Heights State High School).

Regional Encouragement recipient: Jillian Bonell (Harristown State High School).

Excellence winners’ works will be exhibited at Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) from April 27 to August 25, 2024 (marking the 30th anniversary of exhibiting with QAGOMA).

A digital exhibition of all works will be available on the Department of Education program website from late October 2023.

The Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Visual Art is an initiative of the Department of Education, supported by program partner Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art.

For more information, please see: Exhibition | Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Visual Art 2023 (tr.qld.gov.au)

Images: Top 1. Russell COOPER / Life saver 2023 / mixed-media / 70 x 55 x 55cm / Pittsworth State High School / 2023 Excellence Award Winner / © Russell Cooper 

Below left 2. Maggie LATTIMORE / Perpetual solitude 2023 / digital print on paper / 57.5 x 158.0cm / Fairholme College (Toowoomba) / 2023 Excellence Award Winner / © Maggie Lattimore

Below right 3. Alyssa McDONALD SMITH / The inevitability of everyday 2023 / digital prints on aluminium / 15.5 x 10cm each / Fairholme College (Toowoomba) / 2023 Excellence Award Winner / © Alyssa Mcdonald Smith

Below centre 4. Hope MORGAN / The cost 2023 / paint on cardboard / 37.0 x 23.5cm / Highlands Christian College (Toowoomba) / 2023 Excellence Award Winner / © Hope Morgan

Download images: https://spaces.hightail.com/space/J19lAHSxD2