4 April 2022

A group of talented young artists have made their mark on the art world as part of this year’s Top Arts exhibition.

Now in its 28th year at the National Gallery of Victoria, the annual Top Arts exhibition brings together a selection of exceptional and thought-provoking work from the previous year’s VCE Art and VCE Studio Arts students. This year’s exhibition includes artwork by six students from Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, including two students who each had two pieces showcased in this prestigious exhibition.

Amy Pham, a VCE Art student from Sacred Heart Girls’ College, Hughesdale, had two oil on canvas pieces selected: In your world and The weight of your world. ‘As a young woman, I am grounded by the words of my parents and school rules, such that I have not truly understood myself’, writes Amy about The weight of your world. ‘Often fearing rejection, I prefer to stay caged in these expectations. The plethora of hands serve as a metaphor for this notion. The dark background is symbolic of the personal struggle and the play of light on a selective number of hands mirror how these guidelines can be a forced normality.’

Lucy Franich, a VCE Studio Arts student from Star of the Sea College, Brighton, also had two pieces selected: An attempt at self analysis (oil on plywood) and Can’t catch me (coloured pencil and synthetic polymer paint on paper). Lucy’s folio is also available to view for current students to see her process behind creating art, as well as providing some helpful advice. ‘The best thing you can do for yourself is make what you enjoy making’, writes Lucy. ‘Don’t worry if you don’t have many ideas at the beginning. They will come naturally as your work develops over the year.’

Other artists selected for Top Arts include Daniel Ireland from Xavier College, Kew; Kellie Palatino from Kilbreda College, Mentone; Emily Wright from Loreto Mandeville Hall, Toorak; and Abigail Yeo from Sacred Heart Girls’ College, Hughesdale. Top Arts is open from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm daily at The Ian Potter Centre (NGV Australia) until 24 July 2022.