After receiving more than 60 quality submissions, the selection panel for the Sculpture in the Garden Wollongong exhibition has named the 17 successful artists whose work will be on show at Wollongong Botanic Garden in April next year.
Applications were open to artists living anywhere in Australia, with a selection panel that included curators' Daniel Mudie Cunningham and Sophie O'Brien who were tasked with whittling the expressions of interest down to the final 17.
It will see Mark Cuthbertson, Glenn Barkley, Jenny Reddin, S.A. Adair, David Doyle, Robyn Rumpf, Gary Christian, Dr Virginia Keft (Muruwarri), Mechellebee Bounpraseuth, Danny Ivanovski, Leen Rampe and Virge Nielsen, Chris Wilson, Damien Butler, Fe Heffernan, Angela Forrest, Stephanie Quirk, and Bianca Hester exhibit their work at the Botanic Garden from 1 to 30 April, 2025.
There will be 11 artworks in the running for the $30,000 Acquisitive Prize, and six up for consideration for the first ever Ephemeral Prize. The inaugural $10,000 prize is targeted at artists who use organic and non-durable materials for their works. Artists in this category were chosen on how their sculptural proposal responded directly to the Wollongong Botanic Garden site.
A $3000 People's Choice Prize brings the total prize pool for the biennial exhibition to $43,000.
The list of artists also includes Sculptor in Residence Greer Taylor who will work on site over the course of the exhibition building her work -Translucence. Visitors to the Garden will have the opportunity to work directly with Greer and contribute to her 'growing' site specific work.
There will be a free inclusive public program running alongside the exhibition for schools, families and individuals including artists walk-and-talks, workshops, interactive sculpture building, a kid's exhibition catalogue with activities, after dark nocturnal walks, and buggy tours.
Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown said the opportunity to engage with artworks in a beautiful natural environment within the Botanic Garden makes the biennial exhibition a must see.
Cr Brown said Sculpture in the Garden Wollongong provides the rare opportunity for people to engage with both nature and exhibition art in the one location.
"Sculpture in the Garden Wollongong is such a special thing to see because it combines the many benefits of being outdoors and experiencing nature, while also being inspired by the engaging work of the many talented artists whose work will be on display" Cr Brown said.
"It allows a diverse range of people of all ages, who may not typically experience the joy of art and creativity in a gallery setting, to be inspired as part of their everyday enjoyment of our beautiful Botanic Garden.
"It's something I'm very much looking forward to experiencing myself when the exhibition opens in April. Sculpture in the Garden is a highlight in Wollongong's calendar every year and I encourage everyone not to miss this special exhibition."
