The 2017 Create NSW & Artspace NSW Visual Arts Fellowship winner has been announced as Claudia Nicholson. Starting in 1900, it is one of the nation’s oldest arts awards, and see’s the Sydney artist take home $30,000.
Funding a self-directed program of professional development over two years, Nicholson will travel to Mexico and the USA for three months where she will attend various religious and cultural festivals to inform research of pre-Columbian ceramics and Chicanx art and culture. On her return she will work with Fairfield’s Spanish Speaking Choir.
“I am so pleased to be able to offer this support to Claudia who won the Fellowship against tough competition from other emerging artists,” said Minister for Arts Don Harwin, who presented the prestigious award to Nicholson.
“We have a thriving and diverse cultural sector in NSW and we want to do everything possible to provide opportunities for professional development and to showcase their work.”
Chosen by a panel of industry peers chaired by Adam Porter, Curator Contemporary Visual Art for the Campbelltown Arts Centre, Nicholson has been commended for her multidisciplinary art that explores identity and her personal experience being separated from her homeland.
“This year’s finalists of the Fellowship and their approaches to contemporary art are representative of the bold spectrum of practice from artists in the breakthrough stages of their career,’’ said Artspace Executive Director Alexie Glass-Kantor wished Claudia.
The 2017 NSW Visual Arts Emerging Fellowship exhibition will run at Artspace Visual Arst Centre, The Gunnery, 43-51 Wharf Roadway, Woolloomooloo until 9 December 2017.
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