Sydney Contemporary, in partnership with Principal Partner MA Financial Group, today announces the 28 finalists for this year’s MA Art Prize, celebrating and supporting emerging and early career artists in Australia. Also announced are highlight partner activations across the Fair, presented from 5 – 8 September 2024 at Presenting Partner Carriageworks.

Since its foundation in 2013, Sydney Contemporary has established itself as Australia’s premier art fair, regularly attracting over 25,000 visitors at each edition and over $121 million in art sales since its launch. This year, Sydney Contemporary features over 85 galleries showcasing the work of more than 400 emerging and established artists. The Fair is the pre-eminent meeting place for the art world, and critical to the growth of the art market in Australia.

The MA Art Prize is an acquisitive prize valued at $10,000 that will be awarded to one emerging or early career artist showcasing new work with a gallery at Sydney Contemporary 2024. As the Principal Partner of Sydney Contemporary, Australasia’s premier art event, MA Financial Group launched the Prize in 2023 to elevate works by emerging and early career artists in the context of an established fair. The winning artist will be announced ahead of the opening on 4 September 2024.

Andrew Martin, Managing Director & Head of Asset Management, MA Financial Group said: “At MA Financial we believe a vibrant arts community is an important pillar of our dynamic culture. The MA Art Prize in its second year, continues to be a way we demonstrate our commitment, and we are proud of our role in helping provide artists a platform to exhibit their work”.

Zoe Paulsen, Fair Director, Sydney Contemporary, said “We are incredibly grateful for the generous support from MA Financial Group, not only as the Principal Partner of the Fair, but also championing the work of emerging and early career artists through their MA Art Prize. At Sydney Contemporary, we provide a platform and support to artists of all stages, and the Prize is an exciting way to recognise artists who are in the early phase of their careers. We can’t wait to see which of the talented contemporary artists is selected as this year’s winner.”

This year’s judging panel consists of Andrew Martin, MA Financial Group, Janna Robertson, MA Financial Group, Amelia Hill, MA Financial Group, Ursula Sullivan, Sullivan+Strumpf, and Sue Cato, Cato & Clive.

The 2024 MA Art Prize finalists include:

• Aleisa Miksad (Curatorial+Co.)
• Alfred Lowe  (SABBIA)
• Amber Hearn (Curatorial+Co.)
• Anna Mould (Praxis Artspace)
• Bronte Leighton-Dore (Martin Browne Contemporary)
• Ellie Chalmers-Robinson (BAProjects)
• Emil Cañita (MARS Gallery)
• Gretal Ferguson (Stanley Street Gallery)
• Hannah Barclay (Egg & Dart)
• Holly Anderson (N.Smith Gallery)
• Ivana Taylor (Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert)
• Jackson Farley (Stanley Street Gallery)
• Jacquie Meng (Stanley Street Gallery)
• Jorge Mariño Brito (Parker Contemporary)
• Judith Anya Samson (Emilia Galatis Projects)
• Kansas Smeaton (COMA)
• Lachlan Stonehouse (Five Walls Gallery)
• Marina Rolfe (ARC ONE Gallery)
• Marion Abraham (Sullivan+Strumpf)
• Nick Modrzewski (COMA)
• Puuni Brown Nungarrayi (COMA)
• Renée Estée (COMA)
• Sean Crowley (Egg & Dart)
• Shaun Hayes (Stanley Street Gallery)
• Susie Choi (SABBIA)
• Tristan Chant (BAProjects)
• Tyza Hart (Darren Knight Gallery)
• Zoe Grey (James Makin Gallery)

The inaugural 2023 MA Art Prize Winner was Corban Clause Williams, a Manyjilyjarra artist from the Pilbara region, represented by EG Projects in the FUTURE sector at the Fair. Williams’ work was informed by time spent on Country at Kaalpa and explores the untold narratives of remote Australian life.