Art exhibition and acquisition program

 

We support emerging Australian artists through our Art Exhibition and Acquisition Program, established in 2014. The program includes an annual exhibition across our national offices and the Hall & Wilcox Art Prize, which is awarded to one exhibiting artist each year.

The annual exhibition showcases the work of many emerging artists who use a variety of materials and technologies and respond to different cultural contexts through their works and artistic expression. At each exhibition launch – and for the following six to eight weeks – the work is enjoyed and often purchased by our clients, friends and staff. We also acquire an artwork from each exhibition and permanently display those works in our offices nationally.

Expressions of interest invited

We call for expressions of interest from emerging artists to enter the exhibition. Submissions will be reviewed and assessed by Hall & Wilcox’s Art Committee. All artists exhibited are automatically entered into the Art Prize competition.

We are not currently calling for any expressions of interest. Keep an eye on our socials for EOIs for upcoming exhibitions.

art show

Hall & Wilcox's emerging artists exhibition

For any information about upcoming exhibitions, please contact our events team.

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Hall & Wilcox Art Prize

Art Prize winner 2022 – Siarn Staley

Siarn Staley, 'Edwina' artwork of an emu
Winning artwork: Siarn Staley, 'Edwina'

Q&A with Siarn Staley

I have had a real passion for native Australian birds since I was a child. My dad also loves Aussie birds and grew up hand raising quite a few species. He passed that passion on to me.

When I painted Edwina, I had painted so many different species but had not painted an Emu yet.  I set myself the challenge of doing it on a large scale to showcase their size and the magnificent colouring in their necks and eyes.

I of course named it after one of my favourite childhood books ‘Edwina the Emu’.

My preferred medium is watercolour on paper, like Edwina; as I studied Natural History Illustration at the University of Newcastle alongside Fine Arts.  Watercolour is often the go to medium for Natural History Illustration, as it is easier to manipulate and to carry around with you. Although over the past year I have been experimenting more with my art practice and I am slowly expanding more into acrylic on canvas for both my contemporary Indigenous works and depictions of birds and flowers.

I am currently working on a large-scale painting of several Regent Honeyeaters. They are very beautiful birds and are unfortunately critically endangered.

From an early age my mum always gave piles of craft materials to keep me busy, and as I got older (10 years old) I ended up doing after school art classes. From memory my first, proper painting on a canvas was of a sunset scene.

I absolutely LOVE Del Kathryn Barton’s artworks, they are so colourful, quirky and detailed. I also a fellow local Swansea artist, Daniel Joyce. His artworks are truly incredible.

You can see more of my art on my website siarnstaleyart.com or on my Instagram page @siarnstaley

Siarn Staley 2
Siarn Staley 1

Art Prize winner 2021 – Adriana Smith

Artwork by Adriana Smith named ‘Electric Womb’
Winning artwork: Adriana Smith, ‘Electric Womb’

Adriana talks about her prize winning piece, Electric Womb. She also delves into what inspired her to create Electric Womb, her favourite medium of art, what she is currently working and her favourite artists.

Art Prize winner 2020

There was no Hall & Wilcox art prize winner for 2020, due to COVID-19.

Art Prize winner 2019 – Liss Finney

An abstract oil painting (Island by Liss Finney)
Winning artwork: Liss Finney, ‘Island’

Liss talks about her prize winning piece, Island, which was inspired by her artist residency in Iceland. She also shares her thoughts on her preferred artistic medium, her favourite artists and what she’s currently working on.

Kirpy shares some of his thoughts about art, his inspiration and what he has coming up next.

Read here.

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Art Prize winner 2017 – Ilone Art (Sheldon Brown)

Sheldon discusses his winning piece and his work since in this video.