Young artists shine in Hearten Art Prize

EMERGING artists around Geelong are being celebrated at the Geelong Gallery with this year’s Hearten Art Prize.

The prize – created by the gallery’s 2025 GG Connected youth digital trainees, Eden Ariston and Sophie Benbow – aims to celebrate the creative voices of up-and-coming artists and showcase their diverse practices.

Following the theme “inspiration”, local artists between the ages of 18 and 30 were invited to submit artworks answering the question “Who or what inspires you, and how has that shaped your practice?”

Submissions spanned a wide variety of mediums, including drawing, photography and textiles, with Queerly named the winner of the inaugural Hearten Art Prize for their piece, square eyes lover 2024, exploring a struggle with sleep and living life during the dark hours.

 

Geelong Gallery assistant curator Lana De Lorenzi said the “inspiration” theme ties into the 2025 Archibald Prize exhibition, which highlights inspirational public figures and delves into identity and place through portraiture.

“Many of the works submitted to the Hearten Art Prize similarly explore themes of identity, or reference key figures from the artists’ personal lives or from art history who have inspired or helped shape their practice.”

All works shortlisted for the prize were selected based on artist development, technical application, and consideration of and engagement with the theme.

Ms De Lorenzi said initiatives like the art prize are important in celebrating the accomplishments of young artists.

“The Hearten Art Prize offers an authentic and inclusive platform for young, local artists to share their work with wider audiences, while also providing opportunities for engagement with arts professionals at an institutional level.”

 

Another aspiration of the art prize is that by showcasing the works of young creatives, local artists are also inspired and encouraged to continue their practice and share their work.

“We hope that the Hearten Art Prize finalists have benefited professionally from having their work exhibited and that they have made new connections with other local creatives through the exhibition and opening event,” Ms De Lorenzi said

“We also hope that the Hearten Art Prize encourages young, local artists to continue to engage with Geelong Gallery.”

The Hearten Art Prize exhibition will be open until Monday, October 27.

For more information, head to geelonggallery.org.au