Meet Sydney’s 2024 Discover: Young Talent stars

Every year, Affordable Art Fair Sydney nurtures talented young artists and provides them with a stage to shine in front of 1000s of art-loving Australians. In 2024, six emerging artists have been selected and they can’t wait to meet you at the upcoming fair (13 – 16 June, Royal Randwick Racecourse).

The emerging artist scene is one of the most exciting of any creative city, due to an enormous sense of exploration and freedom in their work. It’s no wonder that our Young Talent exhibitions around the world are some of the most popular features of our fairs and present some of the most groundbreaking works. This year’s lineup is no different, with each artist selected for their innovation and technical ability in the emerging contemporary art scene. The 2024 platform lineup was created by Siri Wingrove, an emerging arts worker studying her Masters of Art Curating at The University of Sydney.

Sibylla ‘Billie’ Robertson

In Billie’s ceramic practice, they specialize in a niche glazing technique known as in-glaze reduction lustre. This method, originating from Mesopotamia, involves working with corrosive glazes at low temperatures to create iridescent effects by drawing metals out of the glass matrix.

Despite its low success rate, Billie continues to explore and innovate with this ancient craft, recently collaborating with artist Leila Khazma on a kiln project. Their dedication has earned them awards and recognition, including being a finalist in the National Emerging Art Prize in 2022.

Billie’s artistic journey has recently taken them to Leipzig, Germany, for a residency at Pilotenkueche, and they currently serve as the resident artist at Clay Wollongong under the Burnt Dirt residency program.

Bronte Cormican-Jones

Bronte Cormican-Jones is an emerging Sydney artist living on Garigal land. She uses architectural materials to create sculptures, installations, performances and photographs, influenced by her immediate surroundings.

Interested in the reflective and transparent qualities of glass, she creates photographs on recycled windows and mirrors. Cormican-Jones is a recent graduate of Sydney College of the Arts. She was awarded the FUSE Glass Prize Emerging Artist Award in 2022, and undertook residencies at the JamFactory, Eramboo Artist Environment and Canberra Glassworks in 2023. 

India Swinton

India is an emerging artist working in the drawing and painting medium. Her art is a whole arrangement, emulating the dynamic push and pull of energy through the articulation of unseen forces in colour. Ideas of expanded consciousness are unearthed in her practice. She reminds us of who we are in this liminal space between the physical world and subconscious mind-scape through a polycemic playground of colour, shape, feeling, energy, frequency and vibration.

Louis Wayling

Louis Wayling is an Australian artist from Sydney who grew up in the Northern Beaches. His works are a testament to the transformative power of exploration and introspection. Rooted in the experiences and inspirations gathered from venturing into new places and embracing solitude and his sexuality, there is an essence of discovery and the inner journey of life. His art reflects the emotions and insights that emerge from these personal explorations, capturing the delicate balance between solitude and connection. The sights, sounds, and textures of foreign landscapes in his works are an ode to nature and a reflection of present everyday life. Wayling employs various mediums and techniques that best convey the essence of his experiences, from vibrant palette knife strokes to intricate line work.

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Liz Pike

Liz Pike is an emerging artist based in Newcastle with a keen interest in subverting the traditions of the still-life genre to present works that act as an intimate portrait of individuals and everyday life. Her current artistic focus presents ordinary objects as being akin to altars; shrines to the chaotic and poetic nature of the everyday. In one piece, Liz shows how a bedside table can take on a shrine-like form as it conveys the most important items in someone’s life.

Davy Wong

Davy Wong, a native of Hong Kong now based in Sydney, is an artist whose passion lies in the intricacy of miniature art. Through his meticulous creations, he seeks to foster a deep appreciation for the beauty found in the smallest details, inviting viewers to embark on a journey of discovery and introspection. Inspired by his fond memories of Hong Kong and the vibrant experiences of his life in Australia, Davy’s latest works are a testament to his nostalgic reflections and the richness of his cultural journey. 

With such diverse artwork styles and immense talent on show at our Discover: Young Talent showcase, don’t forget to snap up a ticket to the Sydney fair now for advanced prices, and prepare to be wow-ed!

Main Image:
Bronte Cormican-Jones, Aperture (2021), Fused glass