Sarah Contos facts for kids
Sarah Contos is a talented Australian artist. She is famous for creating unique artworks. These artworks are often collages or large installations. She has won many awards for her art. One big award was the $100,000 Ramsay Art Prize. She was the first person to ever win this prize.
Learning About Art
Sarah Contos studied art in different places.
Early Studies
In 1998, she earned a Diploma of Fine Arts. She studied Art, Design, and Multimedia. This was at the Central Metropolitan College of TAFE in Perth, Western Australia.
Design for Performance
Later, in 2004, Sarah finished a Bachelor's degree. This was in Design for Performance. She studied at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. After this, she worked as a designer. She created costumes and set designs for theatre shows.
Advanced Art Studies
She continued her education. Sarah earned a Masters of Art degree in Painting. She studied at the College of Fine Arts. This college is now called UNSW Art & Design. It is part of the University of New South Wales.
Her Art and Career
Sarah Contos creates art using many different things.
How She Makes Art
Her artworks often include textiles, which are fabrics. She also uses screen printing and found objects. These are everyday items she finds and uses in her art. She also adds painting to her pieces. Her art style is like a mix of collage, sculpture, and large installations.
Moving to Sydney
In 2009, Sarah moved to Sydney. She wanted to focus on her art career there.
Working with Galleries
By 2015, a well-known art dealer, Roslyn Oxley, began to represent her. This helped her art reach more people.
Special Art Projects
In 2018, Sarah spent time in Paris. She was at the Cité Internationale des Arts. She also created a special installation for the National Gallery of Australia. It was called Nikola Tesla Sends Theda Bara to Mars. In 2019, she was one of four artists chosen. They created unique art installations. These were for the Sofitel Darling Harbour. This was part of the Sydney Contemporary art event.
What Her Art Explores
Sarah's art often explores ideas about who we are. She looks at popular culture and history. She describes her life as full of interesting opposites. For example, she says, "I make quilts for art but never for warmth." This shows how she uses everyday things in new ways.
Inside Her Studio
Her art is made in her studio. Another Australian artist, Daniel Mudie Cunningham, visited her studio. He described it as a "happy-sad catastrophe of colour and movement." He said it was a place where her art pieces looked like they were "embalmed in recycled teenage tears." This means her studio is a vibrant and emotional space.
Awards and Recognition
Sarah Contos has received many important awards for her art.
Marten Bequest Scholarship
In 2011, she was one of six artists. They received the Marten Bequest scholarship. This scholarship helps artists with their work.
John Fries Award and Beijing Program
In 2013, she was a finalist for the John Fries Award. This is a prize for emerging artists. She also traveled to Beijing. She was one of three artists chosen for the 4A Beijing Study Program.
Redlands Konica Minolta Art Prize
In 2014, her artwork was featured. It was called Personification of Past and Future Mythologies (Double-Headed Barry). This piece was part of the Redlands Konica Minolta Art Prize.
Ramsay Art Prize Winner
In 2017, Sarah won a very big award. She won the first-ever $100,000 Ramsay Art Prize. She won it at the Art Gallery of South Australia. Her winning artwork was titled Long Kiss Goodbye.
Art in Collections
Sarah Contos's artworks are held in important art collections.
- Campbelltown City Council collection
- National Gallery of Australia
- Art Gallery of South Australia
- Heide Museum of Modern Art
