In the hubbub about the Archibald Prize and the Biennale, one of Australia’s richest art prizes often slips under the radar. The Art Gallery of South Australia’s (AGSA) Ramsay Art Prize is open to Australian artists under 40 working in all mediums.
The fifth winner of the $100,000 prize will be announced this Friday. Here’s everything you need to know in the lead-up.
When did the Ramsay Prize start?
The Ramsay Prize launched in 2017. It was established by the James & Diana Ramsay Foundation, which was established by Diana Ramsay in 2008. The Foundation funded the prize in perpetuity.
The competition is held every two years. It’s considered the most valuable art prize for young Australian artists.
Who can enter the Ramsay Prize?
The Ramsay Art Prize is open to any Australian artist who is under the age of 40 at the submission deadline. Artists must be Australian citizens or permanent residents, and Australia must be their primary residence. Art collectives can also enter if all artists in the group are under 40.
The artwork must be considered “contemporary”, but what that means is open to the interpretation of each artist. The competition is open to all mediums including sculpture, painting, drawing, sound art, film, photography and more. There are no restrictions on the scale of the piece or the subject matter.
The work needs to be new, which means it must have been created between the last Ramsay Prize deadline and the point of submission.
What do winners of the Ramsay Prize get?
The winner of the Ramsay Prize gets $100,000. It’s the richest prize for artists under 40 in Australia.
It’s an acquisitive prize, which means the winning piece will become part of the AGSA permanent collection.
There’s also a $15,000 People’s Choice Prize. There is an exhibition featuring the finalists, and visitors are invited to cast a vote for their personal favourite. The 2025 People’s Choice Prize will be announced on August 15, 2025.
Who are the previous winners of the Ramsay Prize?
Winning the Ramsay Prize is considered career-changing. The four previous winners have seen huge career success since winning.
The first winner was textile artist Sarah Contos in 2017.
Vincent Namatjira won the 2019 prize. The following year, he become the first Indigenous artist to win the Archibald Prize and is now considered one of Australia’s most celebrated Indigenous artists.
In 2021, Kate Bohunnis – who was then an unrepresented artist – won for their sculptural installation piece.
In 2023, Adelaide artist Ida Sophia won for her video performance piece, which was inspired by her dad’s baptism.
When is the 2025 Ramsay Art Prize winner announced?
The winner of the Ramsay Prize will be announced on Friday May 30.
Who are the finalists in the 2025 Ramsay Art Prize?
Twenty-two finalists have been announced for the 2025 prize.
Seven artists from NSW have made the final including Clara Adolphs, Jason Phu, Tom Polo and artist-designer Jordan Gogos.
Five artists from Victoria will be exhibited including artist Stanislava Pinchuk. Four artists from Queensland have made the cut, two WA-based artists, and four South Australian artists.
Can I view the finalists?
Yes, the Ramsay Art Prize exhibition is on display at AGSA from May 31 to August 31.
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