Melissa Nguyen has been awarded the $30,000 Overall Prize for ‘the churchie’ emerging art prize 2025, with her diptych The Last Great Dynasty and Royal Bloodlines. Selected by guest judge Myles Russell-Cook (Artistic Director and CEO of ACCA), Nguyen’s work is celebrated for its quiet power, exploring themes of identity, ancestry, and diasporic dissonance through rabbit glue on canvas.
Other 2025 Winners Include:
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Special Commendation ($5,000): Jack Hodges – People’s Choice
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Commendation ($1,500 each):
– Donina Asera – Sebrack Leaves the Ancestral Home and In the Garden
– Jake Preval – Bloom
Now in its 38th year, ‘the churchie’ continues to spotlight emerging Australian artists with a dynamic exhibition hosted by Metro Arts. The 2025 finalist list includes 18 artists from across the country, representing a range of contemporary practices.
Visitors are invited to cast their vote for the $3,000 People’s Choice Award (sponsored by Hutchinson Builders), to be announced at the close of the exhibition.
