The Jenny Birt Award 2025
Finalists
Aarhon Silver, Ava McClure, Claudia Karskens, Cleo Ding, Elijah Kinnavong, Grace Milross, Harrison Rae, Iris Aung, Jess Curran, Joanna Murray, Leilani Knight, Lok Yin Law, Lucy Parkinson, Mark Wilson, Mei Lin Meyers, Molly Webster, Rebecca Mansour, Skye Wallace, Tash Brobyn, Trinity Johnson
Judges
, Artist and winner of the 2016 Jenny Birt Award
Ramesh Nithiyendran, аIJʹÙÍø Lecturer and artist
Prizes
2025 Jenny Birt Award: Aarhon Silver
Aarhon Silver received the 2025 Jenny Birt Award for their work?Feeling anxious?... there that's better.?
The judges commented, "Silver¡¯s work stood out for its courageous use of self-portraiture, gesturing to histories of assemblage while also engaging with a contemporary queer temporality. Form and content work together cohesively and each element has been closely considered. However, there is also a strong sense of experimentation, movement, and action that comes through. Silver has been able to bring diverse elements together into a cohesive whole, creating a work that is thoughtful, emotive, and evocative. The work is indicative of a practice with strong capacity to develop into the future. Congratulations Aarhon."
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Photograph: Anna Kucera
highly commended: iris aung
Iris Aung was highly commended for their work?To Know Me Closely.?
The judges commented, "Aung¡¯s work is simultaneously graphic and poetic in its exploration of female sexuality. It appears deeply personal but also connects with ideas and contexts beyond the artist¡¯s identity. The work is commended for its bravery in exploring traditional taboo subject matter, and for its strong sense of material and technical experimentation."
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Photograph: Anna Kucera
highly commended: rebecca mansour
Rebecca Mansour was highly commended for their work?The final bow.?
The judges commented, "Mansour¡¯s work is a playful exploration of artistic frustration. It engages in a humorous and thoughtful way with the complexities of developing an artistic practice in institutional and historical contexts. The work is commended for its scale, experimentation, and its ability to connect personal artistic experiences with broader narratives and contexts."
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Photograph: Anna Kucera
Content warning: Some of the artworks in this exhibition engage with themes and imagery that could cause discomfort or be triggering for some.
Finalists
All photographs: Anna Kucera
Acknowledgement of Country
аIJʹÙÍø School of Art & Design stands on an important place of learning and exchange first occupied by the Bidjigal and Gadigal peoples.
We acknowledge the Bidjigal and Gadigal peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land that our students and staff share, create and operate on. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and extend this respect to all First Nations peoples across Australia. Sovereignty has never been ceded.
