Universes Built and Destroyed in a Dressing Room of a Protagonist Yet to be Born, 2024. Photo credit: Jacquie Manning
Edith Cowan University (ECU) has announced Western Australian-born artist Sarah Contos as the recipient of the 2027 Copyright Agency Partnerships (CAP) Grant Commission, recognising her dynamic contemporary practice, autobiographical content and intuitive connection to place.
The commissioned work will be developed for exhibition at the ECU City Campus public gallery from 12 February to 7 May 2027.
Sarah Contos. Photo credit: Rocket Mattler
Now based in Sydney, Ms Contos is a graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and has built a national profile through exhibitions across Australia at significant institutions such as the National Gallery of Australia and the Art Gallery of South Australia, amongst others.
She has been a finalist in multiple art prizes, notably winning the Ramsey Art Prize – one of Australia's richest art prizes – in 2017, and was recently announced a finalist in the Sir John Sulman Prize at the Art Gallery of NSW. In 2019, Ms Contos was awarded a prestigious studio scholarship through the Art Gallery of New South Wales and Cité internationale des arts in Paris.
Selected through a rigorous two-stage process, the commission attracted expressions of interest from artists nationwide. A four-member panel carefully assessed submissions, noting the exceptionally high calibre of proposals received from across the country.
The compelling proposal from Ms Contos stood out for its meaningful connection to Western Australia and its compelling sense of nostalgia.
Ms Contos said the opportunity marks a significant homecoming.
"It is an absolute honour to be the recipient of the CAP/ECU partnership," she said.
"Having grown up in Perth, this exhibition is like a love letter to the city where many memories are held within its landscape, both intimate and collectively shared. I'm so excited to present the work being made for ECU Gallery, it's going to be epic and something very special."
Ms Contos is represented by Station Gallery in Victoria. Her practice is known for its richly layered and immersive approach. She works across sculpture, textiles, painting, video and installation, combining sourced objects, personal artefacts and elements of popular culture to explore the relationships between imagery, form and materiality. Her work often draws on references from art history, fashion, theatre and cinema, examining how objects carry emotional and psychological meaning.
Her career spans more than two decades and includes collaborations in performance, costume and stage design, alongside a strong exhibition history at major Australian institutions. This will be the first solo presentation of her work here in Western Australia.
ECU Manager Art, Culture and Collections Clothilde (Clo) Bullen OAM said:
"It is a privilege to be able to work with Sarah on this beautifully conceived idea around nostalgia and memory, particularly related to our isolated city. Sarah's practice is renowned nationally for its intuitive rigour and Sarah's immersive, sensory materials are sure to find connection with a new audience in the heart of the city on Yagan Square, at ECU's new City Campus."
Copyright Agency CEO Josephine Johnston said:
"Our priority through the Cultural Fund is to ensure new work created by visual artists connects with audiences and this year we are especially delighted to support Sarah Contos with the CAP commission for a visual artist at ECU Gallery, Perth. She will be working with an exceptionally talented team at ECU City Campus to create an incredible presentation of her exhibition, 100 Years of Eating Flowers.
Sarah's work is exciting and innovative and we hope this exhibition will cement her reputation further as one of Australia's most talented visual artists."
