Greatly anticipated each year, Express Yourself unearths the best work from HSC students living on the Northern Beaches. It’s a special time of year when Manly Art Gallery & Museum (MAG&M) throws open its doors to share works created in art departments across 20 local high schools.

In 2023, the calibre of the works on show is incredibly high. The exhibition features a broad range of expressive artforms including painting, printmaking, ceramics, documented forms, drawing, graphic design, photo media, sculpture, collection of works, and time-based forms.

Two winners were jointly named for the Theo Batten Youth Art Award, sharing the $5000 prize money. This recognition is  awarded to students continuing tertiary study in the arts or a related field; 10 eligible students applied this year.

Three artists also shared in the $3,000 prize money awarded by the Friends of MAG&M for their Youth Art Award.

Theo Batten Youth Art Award – joint winners

HAYLEY BENNETT

My latio dissonante vulgari (My Cacophony)

The Forest High

CHARLOTTE YAN

Devolution

NBSC - Freshwater Senior Campus

Friends of MAG&M Youth Art Award – shared winners

JOSH BOEHM

Power of now

St Paul’s Catholic College

MIA HAMILL

The Joy of Dance

NBSC - Freshwater Senior Campus

JADA JONES

For the Love of Pa

Barrenjoey High School

Friends of MAG&M Youth Art Award – highly commended

MIA McDONALD

Search for Self

NBSC – Manly Campus

HANNAH PEREIRA

Women’s human form

Davidson High School

XANTHE HUNGERFORD

Les feuilles fragiles de l’esprit (The fragile leaves of the mind)

The Pittwater House School

The KALOF People’s Choice Award will be announced at the end of the exhibition period. Visitors are encouraged to vote for their favourite work.

Artist statements are displayed alongside the artworks describing the inspirations and influences that informed the works and the students’ creative journeys.

Express Yourself is on display at MAG&M until 16 April 2023. MAG&M is open 10am – 5pm daily (excluding Mondays).

For more information visit the MAG&M website