Emerging visual artists shine at TRAG’s Creative Generation Excellence Awards 2024 exhibition

The creative talents of Darling Downs and South West Queensland secondary school students feature in Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery’s annual Creative Generation – Excellence Awards in Visual Art 2024 exhibition that is on display until November 24, 2024.

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 41 artworks by senior high school visual art students representing 18 schools across the Darling Downs and South West Queensland.

From the 41 submissions, the following awards were announced: One Regional Encouragement Award, nine commendations and five excellence winners.

Commendation recipients: Elaine van Aardt (Centenary Heights State High School), Jazmin Jones (Harristown State High School), Roma Aarons (Fairholme College - Toowoomba), Fletcher Irwin (Toowoomba Grammar School), Georgia Hoffmann (Fairholme College), Kadence Wilson (Fairholme College), Joshua McQueen (Highlands Christian College - Toowoomba), Grace Bell (Toowoomba Anglican School) and Noah Gunders (Mary Mackillop College Catholic College - Highfields).

Excellence award recipients: Kyzza Lalaine (Kyla) Loyola (Pittsworth State High School), Charlie Dawson (Lockyer District State High School), Ian Saltner (Murgon State High School), Emmalise Hogden (Goondiwindi State High School) and Rachel Williams (Mary Mackillop College Catholic College).

Regional Encouragement recipient: Harrison Drynan (Toowoomba Grammar School).

Excellence winners from across Queensland will be exhibited at Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) from May 31 to August 31, 2025.

For more information, please see: Exhibition | Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Visual Art

Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery at 531 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba, is open Wednesday to Sunday 10.30am – 3.30pm. Entry is free.

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.

Images: 1. Jazmin JOHNSON / Ignorance is the ignition 2024 / raffia, cardboard and acrylic paint on board / 26 x 127 x 2cm / © Jazmin Johnson (Top)

2. Joshua McQUEEN / the big empty 2024 / video animation / © Joshua McQueen

3. Ian SALTNER / NO JUSTICE. NO PEACE. WE CAN’T BREATHE. 2024 / acrylic on canvas / 50 x 70cm / © Ian Saltner (bottom)

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