We are thrilled to share that Nick Santoro, Jody Graham, and Tony Mighell have all been selected as finalists in the Waverley Art Prize 2025. Chosen from over 550 submissions, their works are among the 40 finalists selected by this year’s esteemed judges: Anne Ryan (Curator of Australian Art, Art Gallery of NSW) and Jasper Knight (Artist).
This is an outstanding achievement, and we couldn’t be more proud of our artists for this well-deserved recognition.
The Waverley Art Prize exhibition will open to the public on Saturday 5 July 2025, following the Opening Night and Prize Announcement on Friday 4 July, where the Mayor of Waverley, Cr. Will Nemesh, will announce the winners. The exhibition runs through 17 August 2025 at the Bondi Pavilion Gallery.
Selected Works
Nick Santoro
If Only Bunnings Sold Metal Detectors (2025)
Acrylic on polyester
118 x 93 cm
"Bunnings sells everything – the totality of what can be bought. But there is an ever-increasing variety of items available. For Bunnings begins and ends with itself; it expands but never contracts... infinite growth, infinite possibility, under the vast canopy of skylights where day and night vanish."
In this work, Santoro explores the expanding nature of consumer culture through the lens of a familiar Australian institution. Both humorous and philosophical, the piece questions the endless cycle of consumption and the shape of commerce to come.
Jody Graham
Locked Out (2025)
Charcoal on paper
113 x 124 cm
"For me, architecture is not restrictive—it’s rich, full, and expressive. I see buildings as characters, each with its own personality, telling stories through their facades. Often, I sense that the exterior of a building belies darker truths, and more than once, my instincts have been right. Through research, I uncover histories that are unexpected, sometimes unsettling, but always intriguing. These discoveries reaffirm my belief that buildings speak."
Graham’s powerful drawing reflects on the emotional and historical layers embedded in architecture. It invites viewers to consider buildings as living entities—holding secrets, histories, and human experience within their walls.
Tony Mighell
Joan’s Lament (2025)
Oil on plywood
120 x 100 cm
"I see these processes, even though quite literal in nature, as echoing a range of thinking I have developed around abstraction. To put it quite simply, it is the passage from the totally intuitive to one of analysis and synthesis."
We extend our sincere thanks to Waverley Council, the Waverley Woollahra Art School, and this year’s judges for their commitment to supporting and celebrating contemporary Australian art.
