Welcome everyone to the Young Originals online gallery and catalogue.

2023 marks the fourteenth year of proud hosting of Young Originals by the Western Australian Secondary School Executives’ Association (WASSEA).  Delivered in partnership with the Sangora Education Foundation, Edith Cowan University – School of Arts and Humanities and the Department of Education, the exhibition celebrates visual arts programs delivered across Western Australian public schools and the talents of our young artists and designers.  

The last fourteen years have seen Young Originals grow in popularity and prominence.  This year we exhibited at Spectrum Project Space and over the month of August presented a wonderful array of artworks. We now share these works with you in this contemporary online gallery and catalogue. 

A record total of 294 entries were received this year from city and country schools.  This is a testament to our dedicated visual arts teachers.  The judges were hard pressed to select the finalists, with 89 pieces eventually chosen for display. Viewers of the online gallery can find each piece, filter by school, enlarge images and read artist statements where students reflect on their creative intentions and influences.

I would like to acknowledge the work of the Young Originals organising committee and other contributors to this event: Cassie Bussell and Karen Lamond from the Department of Education; Graphic designer/website designer and TAFE lecturer, Brendan Hibbert; Collage artist, Shay Azzari; Alix Beattie, ECU Galleries coordinator and exhibition curator; Sue Starcken, ECU art collection curator and visual arts lecturer; Robyn Rochat, visual arts/design teacher, and Donna Franklin, artist and educator.

Most importantly, on behalf of WASSEA and our event partners, I thank all students and teachers who submitted work this year and congratulate those whose work was selected for exhibition. 2023 has yielded works of insight, power, skill, humour and keen observation – which is, of course, the essence of Young Originals.  

MELISSA GILLETT
President: WASSEA