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Study at School of Art & Design
Explore undergraduate and Honours degrees in Visual Arts, Design, Animation & Moving Image, and Art Theory; and postgraduate and research degrees in Fine Arts, Design, Curating & Cultural Leadership, Animation & Visual Effects, and Simulation & Immersive Technologies.
Vale Liz Williamson (1949 C 2024)
It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Liz Williamson, an extraordinary weaver, educator, and tireless advocate for excellence in textiles in Australia and beyond. Liz has been a loved member of the academic community at since 1997 when she first established the textiles department at College of Fine Arts (COFA). In 2012, Liz became an Associate Professor at Art & Design, where she remained until her retirement in 2020. She became an Honorary Associate Professor in 2021, working with postgraduate research candidates.
As an educator, Liz touched the lives and careers of countless young designers, makers and craftspeople. She was Head of School between 2008 and 2013, a role in which she had the great respect of her colleagues. She demanded high standards and rewarded all around her with generosity, knowledge, insight, and a love of design.
Liz organised a Cultural Textiles fieldwork course and tour to India for design students outside the studios and corridors of the Paddington campus. Liz generously shared her deep respect and knowledge of artisan handmade textiles in India, and these three-week trips have profoundly influenced the careers of over 100 students since 2012.
Liz maintained a preeminent weaving and research practice for more than 45 years, endlessly innovating and sharing her work through her teaching. While her awards, grants, exhibitions, publications, and acquisitions are too numerous to mention, she was acknowledged in 2008 as a Living Treasure, Master of Australian Craft by Object: Australian Design Centre, resulting in a significant monograph and extensive touring exhibition. As recently as 2023 she was highly commended in the inaugural MAKE Award: Biennial Prize for Innovation in Australian Craft and Design, testament to her endless work in and on her practice.
The newly completed F Block textiles workshops will become known as the Liz Williamson Textiles Studio to acknowledge Lizs sustained contribution to the textiles specialisation at the School of Art & Design in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture. There could be no more fitting way to honour Lizs work establishing textiles as an area of study for generations of students at .
Liz was lovingly supported by her husband, Tony Stirton, in their Stanmore home and studio until he died in 2021. In this , made by the Australian Design Centre in 2018, you can see Liz at work in her studio.
Our thoughts are with Lizs family, friends, colleagues, and all in her extended creative community.
Two alumni selected for Primavera 2024
Congratulations to our alumni Chun Yin Rainbow Chan (hȻ) [Master of Fine Arts (Research), 2020] and Monica Rani Rudhar [Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours), 2021] for their selection in Primavera 2024.
This prestigious annual exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia showcases the work of early-career artists living and working in Australia.
Primavera 2024: Young Australian Artists is also curated by alum Lucy Latella (Bachelor of Fine Arts, 2014). The exhibition will be on display at MCA from 30 August - 27 January 2025.
Image credit: Monica Rani Rudhar, Drop Earrings That Once Belonged To My Mother, 2022, installation view, Monica Rani Rudhar: Close Your Eyes and Hold Out Your Hand, Martin Browne Contemporary, Sydney, 2023, terracotta, glaze, lustre, chain, wire, image courtesy the artist and Martin Browne Contemporary ? the artist, photograph: Jessica Maurer. ?
Vedika Rampal receives top prize at national graduate showcase
Recent graduate Vedika Rampal is one of three recipients of the Dr Harold Schenberg Arts Awards, awarded as part of the Hatched: National Graduate Show 2024.
Hatched is Australias only national survey of recent art school graduates and showcases work from the most exciting emerging artists from across the country. Notable alums including Archie Moore, Julie Gough and Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran.
Vedika Rampal was among just 22 graduates invited to participate in this showcase. From this select group, three prizes were awarded to exceptional artists to encourage their work and further invest in the development of their careers.
The prestigious prize was awarded to Vedika for her installation Pilgrimage II (2023), which was also the winner of the TWT Excellence at the A&D Annual 2023.
What's on
Find out more about current exhibitions, register for upcoming events and read about the recent achievements of our students, staff and alumni.
World-class facilities in Sydney's creative hub
As a student at School of Art & Design, you have access to world-class facilities, innovative resources and opportunities to study and work internationally.
Our specialist campus incorporates museum-standard galleries and state-of-the-art workshops, open studios and private workspaces, research and digital labs, lounges and collaboration spaces.
Acknowledgement of Country
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.
