Hatched: National Graduate Show presents 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 reflects the challenging times we live in. The artists’ engage with an array of mediums, including ceramics, jewellery, paint, technology, textiles and weaving, creating artworks that are rendered with profiency, care and sensitvity. 
 
The exhibition is 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 (VIC)  
Katherine Douglas (VIC)  
Shani Engelbrecht (SA)  
Matthew Freeman (ACT)  
Mitchel Davis (NSW)  
Adam Hsieh (TAS)  
Isaac Huggins (WA)  
Anna May Kirk (NSW)  
Charles Levi (NSW)  
Ivy Minniecon (QLD)  
Nathan Nhan (ACT)  
Emily Norton (VIC)  
Shana O’Brien (NSW)  
Agatha Okon (WA)  
Bryce Olsen (WA)  
William O’Toole (NSW)  
Soile Paloheimo (VIC)  
Alexandra Peters (VIC)  
Khashayar Salmanzadeh (WA)   
Marian Sandberg (SA)  
Paean Sarkar (QLD)  
Chris Siu (SA)  
Blair Walsh (VIC)  
Alexander Whitlam (NSW)  
Jayda Wilson (SA)  
Nicole Zhang (NSW) 

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.