Emerging Voices in Victorian Art

Top Arts presents a dynamic and thought-provoking collection of works in various mediums, including painting, photography, moving images, textiles, sculpture, and digital media. The exhibition captures a spectrum of personal and cultural narratives and reflections on contemporary life, nature, and the complexities of knowledge.

Among this year’s highlights is Eden Thomas’s Copper Lining (Please Don't Touch the Artwork), a striking installation featuring a large-scale copper panel embossed with Braille text. The work plays with the irony of inviting and restricting interaction simultaneously, encouraging viewers to reflect on the accessibility of information in the digital age. Created in consultation with Vision Australia, Thomas’s piece challenges audiences to consider who has access to knowledge and who is left out.

Also featured is Ethan Mangopoulos’s vivid photo series My Life, which charts his personal journey into adulthood. Through layers of colour and x-ray-like textures, Mangopoulos captures moments of self-discovery, navigating shifting relationships and the emotional landscape of growing up.

In Our Rooms, Meg Kane documents the intimate spaces of friends, pairing striking photographic portraits with curated collections of personal objects. The project delves into the influence of personal spaces on identity and celebrates the shared human experience of expressing individuality through the things we choose to display.

First Nations artist Eva Philippiadis contributes Hold Me Gently, a delicate woven basket adorned with oyster shells and inscribed boab nuts. The work is a meditation on family, culture, and the gentle ties that shape one’s sense of self.

Top Arts 2025 offers visitors a powerful and inspiring window into the creative minds of Victoria’s emerging artists, each with a unique story to tell.

LEARN MORE
https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/top-arts-2025/