Hatched: National Graduate Show

Showcasing recent graduates from art schools across Australia, Hatched: National Graduate Show offers a national survey of emerging artistic talent, highlighting the diversity and creativity of some of the country’s most promising new artists. As the only survey exhibition of its kind in Australia, Hatched has become a much-anticipated program for artists and audiences alike, reinforcing PICA’s unwavering commitment to supporting new generations of leading contemporary artists.

Since its inception in 1992, Hatched has featured the work of over 1,400 artists, serving as a crucial platform for early-career artists in Australia. Hatched was conceived by PICA’s inaugural director, Noel Sheridan, and focussed on presenting a large, diverse survey of work from art school graduates across the country. Following its early years, Hatched was refined and given its now-iconic title by PICA’s second director, Sarah Miller. For many, Hatched marks their first opportunity to exhibit at a major arts institution, introducing their work to a national audience. In addition to the exhibition, PICA offers a bespoke professional development program for the selected artists shaped with and in response to their practices and needs. Along with an annual exhibition catalogue, Hatched also offers two studio residencies each year: one for an interstate artist and one for a WA-based artist to spend time at PICA to develop new projects.

In recent years, Hatched has been led by the appointment of a Hatched Curatorial Associate—a position designed to support the career of an emerging curator. This initiative has been made possible by the foresight and generous support of Minderoo Foundation. Offering a rare opportunity for an emerging curator to lead a large-scale, multi-faceted exhibition such as Hatched, the Curatorial Associate works to provide dedicated support and attention to each exhibiting artist while being mentored by the PICA team. In 2021-2022 Miranda Johnson was appointed as the inaugural Curatorial Associate and was succeeded by Brent Harrison, who held the role in 2023-24. Mia Palmer-Verevis takes on the curatorial leadership of Hatched for 2025-2026.

The Schenberg Arts Awards, established in 2009, are a cornerstone of the support that Hatched offers emerging artists. These awards offer substantial prize money to encourage the development of emerging practice and allow new artists to further invest in the progression of their career. These awards, now totalling a generous $50,000, are made possible by the Dr Harold Schenberg Bequest and presented in partnership with the University of Western Australia. Over the past 15 years, the Schenberg Arts Awards have contributed to the career development of 20 talented Australian artists and over $600,000 in award prizes.

For the past 34 years, Hatched has recognised and celebrated the most promising and diverse practices of recent tertiary art graduates, selected for their creative excellence and unique modes of expression—many of whom have gone on to gain recognition later in their careers. This digital archive offers a space to reflect on and celebrate the rich legacy of the Hatched: National Graduate Show, while showcasing the creative pathways and possibilities that may lie ahead for the future generations of emerging artists. This site profiles a snapshot of Hatched alumni, highlighting the diversity of practices, disciplines and stories that contribute to and shape Australian contemporary art in profound and exciting ways—demonstrating Hatched’s enduring impact on the national arts landscape.