Congratulations to Ida Sophia, winner of the $100,000 Ramsay Art Prize 2023, the nation’s most generous prize for Australian artists under forty, with her work Witness.
The winning work is a performance-based video. Informed by the South Australian artist’s early childhood experience of observing her father’s baptism, Witness was shot in a single take at The Pool of Siloam in Wirmalngrang/Beachport in regional South Australia. The single-channel video work depicts the artist in performance, undergoing a repetitive and intense series of submergences that take a single baptism to the level of relentless obsession.
Chosen from more than 300 entries from across the country, the judges were unanimous in their decision and describe the winning work as sophisticated in concept and deeply emotive in subject. Ida Sophia’s Ramsay Art Prize 2023 entry now becomes part of AGSA's collection.
The 2023 judging panel comprised of Aaron Seeto, Director of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Nusantara, Jakarta; Perth-based visual artist and creative producer Erin Coates; and Nici Cumpston OAM, Artistic Director of Tarnanthi and Curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art at the Art Gallery of South Australia.
Finalists
Abdul Abdullah (NSW), Carla Adams (WA), Badra Aji (VIC), Tom Blake (NSW/WA), Yuriyal Eric Bridgeman (QLD), Emma Buswell (WA), Jacobus Capone (WA), Sundari Carmody (SA), Ida Sophia (SA), Corban Clause Williams (WA), Henry Curchod (NSW), Sarah Drinan (NT), Zaachariaha Fielding (SA), Aidan Gageler (NSW), Olive Gill-Hille (WA), Pascale Giorgi (WA), Nadia Hernández (VIC), Alana Hunt (WA/NSW), Alfred Lowe (SA), Gian Manik (VIC), Daniel McKewen (QLD), Amy Perejuan-Capone (WA), Alison Puruntatameri (NT), JD Reforma (NSW), Teho Ropeyarn (QLD), Yasmin Smith (NSW) and Katie West (WA).
See the works of all 27 finalists and have your say in the People’s Choice Prize, a non-acquisitive cash prize of $15,000 supported by LK. Voting closes at 5pm on 6 August 2023. The People's Choice winner is announced on 11 August 2023.
People’s Choice Prize Winner Announced
The winner of the $15,000 Ramsay Art Prize 2023 People's Choice Prize supported by LK is Zaachariaha Fielding with his suite of works Wonder Drug.

installation view: Ramsay Art Prize 2023 featuring Wonder Drug by Zaachariaha Fielding, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; photo: Saul Steed.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this exhibition are those of the artists and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Gallery.

Abdul Abdullah, Australia, born 1986, Legacy Assets, 2022, Sydney, oil on linen, 200.0 x 1000.0 cm; Courtesy the artist and Yavus Gallery, © the artist and Yavus Gallery.
Abdul Abdullah

Carla Adams, born Perth 1984, Dream Lover, 2022, Perth, beads, shells, gemstones, human hair, taxidermied elements, polyester rope. Courtesy the artist.
Carla Adams

Badra Aji, born 1985, Only In The Dark, You'll Love Me Colourlessly / Hanya Dalam Gelap Kau Kan Mencintaiku Tanpa Warna, 2022, Melbourne, pencil on paper (diptych), video: duration 5:14 minutes, 41.0 x 39.5 cm (a), 80.0 x 114.0 cm (b), 80.0 x 157.0 cm (overall); Courtesy the artist and This Is No Fantasy.
Badra Aji

Tom Blake, born 1985, holding light (three instants) / the beekeeper (index) 2022, 2022, Sydney, cyanotypes, artist-made brass frames, two channel looping video; duration 14 seconds, 41.0 x 31.0 cm (each); Courtesy the artist.
Tom Blake

Yuriyal Eric Bridgeman, Yuri tribe, Simbu, Papua New Guinea, born Redcliffe, Queensland 1986, Bolma Giblin / Pig Head, 2022, Brisbane, digital print on polyester, water based enamel; Courtesy the artist and Milani Gallery, Brisbane
Yuriyal Eric Bridgeman

Emma Buswell, born Attadale, Western Australia 1991, Suburban Turrets, 2022, Perth, paper mache, electronics, glass, lead, yarn, hand knitted jumpers, medium-density fibreboard, aluminium; Courtesy the artist
Emma Buswell

Jacobus Capone, born Perth 1986, Forewarning (Act 4: Demarcation), 2022, Norway, two channel synchronised HD video; Courtesy the artist & Moore Contemporary
Jacobus Capone

Sundari Carmody, born 1988, The Mountain, 2022, Adelaide, brass, electronic components, water, mist, Mitti Attar oil; Courtesy the artist.
Sundari Carmody

Ida Sophia, Australia, born 1989, Witness, 2022, Adelaide, single channel video with sound, 12 mins 12 secs; Courtesy the artist, © Ida Sophia.
Ida Sophia

Corban Clause Williams, born 1994, Kaalpa (Kalypa, Canning Stock Route Well 23), 2022, Newman, Western Australia, synthetic polymer paint on linen (two panels), 158.0 x 76.0 x 2.0 cm (each); Courtesy the artist and Martumili Artists.
Corban Clause Williams

Henry Curchod, born 1992, Brickwork, 2022, Sydney, oil, dry pigment, charcoal on linen, 252.5 x 198.0 cm; Courtesy the artist.
Henry Curchod

Sarah Drinan, born 1994, Milking Mother and Daughter, 2022, Melbourne, oil, synthetic polymer paint, soft pastel on canvas, 115.0 x 115.0 cm; Courtesy the artist, © Sarah Drinan.
Sarah Drinan

Zaachariaha Fielding, Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara people, South Australia, born Port Augusta, South Australia 1991, Wonder Drug, 2022, Adelaide, synthetic polymer paint, metallic paint, spray paint, charcoal, graphite, pencil on cardboard. Courtesy the Artist and APY Centre Collective.
Zaachariaha Fielding

Aidan Gageler, born 1998, Old Skin, 2022, Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, expired colour film, dye sublimation on aluminium, aluminium frame, 100.0 x 140.0 x 4.0 cm; Courtesy the artist, © Aidan Gageler.
Aidan Gageler

Olive Gill-Hille, born 1994, Nocturne, 2022, Perth, ebonised, carved American black walnut, 90.0 x 140.0 x 120.0 cm; Courtesy the artist and Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert, Sydney.
Olive Gill-Hille

Ode to Bricklayers (1173-1982-2022), 2022, Perth, three channel video with sound. Courtesy the artist
Pascale Giorgi

Nadia Hernández, sensibles dueños de nuestra felicidad (sensible owners of our happiness), 2022, Melbourne, various textiles, turmeric, flax seed, onion, purple cabbage, avocado, rosemary, eucalyptus, fern, tea, rope, ribbon, recycled timber, powder coated steel, 80.0 x 190.0 cm (a), 160.0 x 200.0 cm (b), 80.0 x 140.0 cm (c); Courtesy the artist, © the artist/STATION, Australia, photo: Lemon Tree FIlm House.
Nadia Hernández

Alana Hunt, born 1984, A very clear picture, from the body of work A very clear picture, 2021, Sydney, pen on paper; Courtesy the artist; Produced with the support of SPACED's Rural Utopias Program and the Kimberley Land Council., © Alana Hunt, photo: Anwen Crawford.
Alana Hunt

Alfred Lowe, born Moora, Western Australia 1996, Crossing The Lines, 2022, Adelaide, underglaze on buff raku trackyte clay; Courtesy the artist and APY Art Centre Collective, Adelaide
Alfred Lowe

Gian Manik, Victory and conflict, 2022, Melbourne, oil, synthetic polymer and enamel spray paint on canvas, 280.0 x 550.0 cm; Courtesy the artist and Sutton Gallery Melbourne, © Gian Manik.
Gian Manik

Daniel McKewen, born 1983, A Dark Forest, 2022, Brisbane, Five-channel installation of synchronised 4K videos, 2.8:1 aspect ratio (10800 x 3840px), 2.1 channel sound,; Courtesy the artist and Milani Gallery, Brisbane, © the artist / Milani Gallery, Brisbane.
Daniel McKewen

Amy Perejuan-Capone, Milk Tea (1), 2022, Fremantle, Western Australia, ex military parachute, embroidery thread (nylon); Courtesy the artist, © Amy Perejuan-Capone.
Amy Perejuan-Capone

Alison Puruntatameri, Tiwi people, Northern Territory, born 1984, Pirlangimpi, Melville Island, Northern Territory, Winga (Tidal Movement / Waves), 2022, Pirlangimpi, Melville Island, Northern Territory, natural ochres, synthetic polymer binder on linen, 243.0 x 181.0 cm; Courtesy the artist and Munupi Art Centre, © Alison Puruntatameri.
Alison Puruntatameri

JD Reforma, Fibre optics; an intranet of virtue, 2022, Sydney, synthetic polymer paint, synthetic polymer binder on coconut husk, 26.0 x 36.0 cm (each); Courtesy the Artist, © the artist, photo: Andrew Curtis.
JD Reforma

Teho Ropeyarn, Angkamuthi/Yadhaykana people, Northern Cape York, Queensland, born 1988, Mount Isa, Queensland, Athumu Paypa Adthinhuunamu (my birth certificate), 2022, Brisbane, vinyl-cut prints, colour ink on paper with audio; duration 4:50 mintues, 350.0 x 720.0 cm; Courtesy the artist and Onespace, © courtesy of the artist and Onespace, photo: Michael Marzik.
Teho Ropeyarn

Yasmin Smith,Terra Dei Fuochi, 2021, Naples, Italy, poplar wood ash-glaze on Limoges stoneware, 310.0 x 622.0 x 5.0 cm (overall); Courtesy the artist and The Commercial, Sydney, © courtesy the artist and The Commercial, Sydney, photo: Amedeo Benestante.
Yasmin Smith

Katie West, born Perth 1988, Fence lines & Digging sticks, 2022, York, Western Australia, found fabric, thread, wire; Courtesy the artist