Park Ridge artist, Emma-Lee Boniface, has been named as the recipient of this year’s Logan City Council Robyn Daw Young Visual Artist Scholarship, receiving a $7,000 cash scholarship and private mentorship session with Queensland artist, Dr Kellie O’Dempsey.
The scholarship program, now in its second year, aims to support young artists in the City of Logan whose practices relate to their cultural background, through professional development, exhibition exposure and financial assistance.
The program honours former Council employee, the late Robyn Daw, who led the Creative Industries Program from 2012 until the time of her passing in January 2022.
Mayor, Jon Raven said the judges found it difficult to decide on a winner as all finalists had produced thoughtful and meaningful work.
“There were eight incredible finalists aged between 18 and 35 whose stories were all different but very inspiring,” Mayor Raven said.
“They include a refugee from Syria, an immigrant from Afghanistan, a New Zealand-born fashion designer and someone living with autism.
“But in the end it was Emma-Lee’s entry that shone because of her creative representation of multicultural themes through the different layers of her artwork.”
Ms Boniface plans to use her scholarship funding to establish a studio space to develop work at scale.
Honourable mentions were also awarded to Marsden resident Bea Harrison and Ayla Sayemuddahr from Woodridge who presented artworks which communicated important social and cultural themes, such as the Syrian revolution and The Treaty of Waitangi, which were both personal and universal.
Mayor Raven said the Robyn Daw scholarship was a great example of how the Council is nurturing artistic talent.
“Logan has so many diverse and talented artists of all ages, and it’s so exciting to be able to support them,” Mayor Raven said.
“The City of Logan’s future is brighter when we invest in our young and talented community.”
Artworks developed by the finalists in the 2025 Robyn Daw Young Visual Artist Scholarship can be seen at Logan Art Gallery until Saturday, July 12.
The four other exhibitions on display include:
- Every home should have one by FS Helfisch + Nancy Brown;
- Oh MG by Chloe Wigg;
- Our friends by Ella Bai, Sharon Yu, Nancy Guan, Cindy Ji, Olivia Gao, Alice Qian, Daniel Zhou, Luna Huang, Howell Ren and Frank Cui and;
- World Environment Day Posters.
A program of workshops and artist talks will run alongside the exhibitions.
For more information and to register visit loganarts.com.au/event/upcoming-exhibitions/.
