Hatched: National Graduate Show presented a dynamic showcase of emerging artists recently graduated from 21 art schools across Australia. In 2023, 26 artists were nominated by their teachers and selected by a panel comprising Archie Barry (artist, Melbourne), Glenn Iseger-Pilkington (curator, Fremantle Arts Centre, Perth) and Hannah Mathews (Director/CEO, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts). 
 
Created in the first year since COVID-19-related restrictions eased, the work of these artists reflected challenging times. The artists’ engaged with an array of mediums, including ceramics, jewellery, paint, technology, textiles and weaving, creating artworks that were rendered with proficiency, care and sensitvity. 
 
The exhibition was accompanied by artist-focussed events that create vital professional development opportunities for practitioners who are in the early stages of their careers. In 2023 this program focused on financial sustainability and security with artists also learning how to make their work accessible to audiences with diverse needs. PICA also offers interstate and local Hatched artists month-long residencies as part of our studio program. In 2023, Bryce Olsen from North Metropolitan TAFE (WA), Jayda Wilson from University of South Australia (SA) and Alexandra Peters from Monash University (VIC) were provided with a space to research and develop new work. 
 
Since 2010, PICA has offered the Dr Harold Schenberg Arts Awards, with a total prize pool of $50,000 for three artists to invest in their careers and develop their artistic practice. In 2023, Paean Sarkar from Queensland University of Technology (QLD) received the Dr Harold Schenberg Art Fellowship of $35,000. Jingxuan Chen from The University of Melbourne (VIC) received the Dr Harold Schenberg Art High Commendation of $10,000 and Agatha Okon from The University of Western Australia (WA) received the Dr Harold Schenberg Commendation of $5,000. The Dr Harold Schenberg Arts Awards are made possible by funds bequeathed to The University of Western Australia by Dr Harold Schenberg. 

 
Hatched: National Graduate Show 2023 artists: 

Jingxuan Chen – The University of Melbourne (VIC)
Katherine Douglas – Federation Univeristy Australia (VIC) 
Shani Engelbrecht – Flinders University (SA) 
Matthew Freeman – Australian National University (ACT) 
Mitchel Davis – National Art School (NSW) 
Adam Hsieh – University of Tasmania (TAS) 
Isaac Huggins – Edith Cowan University (WA) 
Anna May Kirk – Sydney College of the Arts, The Univerisity of Sydney (NSW) 
Charles Levi – UNSW Sydney (NSW) 
Ivy Minniecon – Griffith University (QLD) 
Nathan Nhan – Australian National University (ACT)
Emily Norton – The University of Melbourne (VIC)
Shana O’Brien – Sydney College of the Arts, The Univerisity of Sydney (NSW)
Agatha Okon – The University of Western Australia (WA)
Bryce Olsen – North Metropolitan TAFE (WA) 
William O’Toole – University of Wollongong (NSW) 
Soile Paloheimo – RMIT University (VIC) 
Alexandra Peters – Monash University (VIC) 
Khashayar Salmanzadeh – Curtin University (WA)  
Marian Sandberg – Adelaide Central School of Art (SA) 
Paean Sarkar – Queensland University of Technology (QLD) 
Chris Siu – University of South Australia (SA) 
Blair Walsh – Deakin University (VIC) 
Alexander Whitlam – Southern Cross University (NSW) 
Jayda Wilson – University of South Australia (SA)
Nicole Zhang – UNSW Sydney (NSW)

Dr Harold Schenberg Arts Awards Winners

Paean Sarkar (Queensland University of Technology) – $35,000 Schenberg Art Fellowship
Jingxuan Chen (The University of Melbourne) – $10,000 Schenberg Art High Commendation
Agatha Okon (The University of Western Australia) – $5,000 Schenberg Art Commendation

Since 2010, PICA has offered the Schenberg Awards as part of the Hatched program, with a total of $50,000 prize money for three artists to invest in their careers and develop their artistic practice. The Dr Harold Schenberg Art Fellowship of $35,000 is awarded to the most outstanding Hatched work.

This year, the Dr Harold Schenberg Art Fellowship of $35,000 – the largest prize for an emerging artist in Australia – was awarded to Paean Sarkar (QLD). Paean sat down with Schenberg Awards judge, artist and Hatched alumni Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran to discuss her award-winning works.