Welcome to the 2025 Young Originals online gallery and catalogue — an inspiring showcase of creativity, imagination and artistic excellence from Western Australian public school students.

Now in its sixteenth year, Young Originals continues to be proudly hosted by the Western Australian Secondary School Executives’ Association (WASSEA), in partnership with the Sangora Education Foundation, Edith Cowan University’s School of Arts and Humanities, and the Department of Education. This exhibition honours the strength of visual arts education across our state and the extraordinary talents of our young artists and designers.

This year’s exhibition was again held at Spectrum Project Space, where visitors experienced a dynamic and thought-provoking collection of student artworks. We’re excited to now share these works with a wider audience through this online gallery—designed to be interactive, inclusive, and engaging. Here, you can explore each piece in detail, filter by school, and read artist statements that offer insight into the students’ creative journeys, influences, and intentions.

In 2025, a total of 212 entries were submitted from both metropolitan and regional schools—a powerful reflection of the enthusiasm and commitment of students and teachers alike. The judging panel faced a difficult task in narrowing down the selection, with 70 exceptional works ultimately chosen for exhibition. The diversity of themes—from identity and culture to environment and technology—reflects the evolving concerns and passions of young people today. Each piece is a testament to student voice: authentic, thoughtful, and often deeply personal.

These works reflect the dedication and expertise of our visual arts teachers, whose guidance and encouragement help students develop skills and the confidence to express themselves and bring their ideas to life. Their commitment to fostering creativity in the classroom is evident in every brushstroke, sketch, and digital composition.

I acknowledge the Young Originals organising committee and contributors who made this event possible: Cathie Bonner, Karen Lamond, Sharon Hughes and Amanda Hillerich from the Department of Education; Brendan Hibbert, graphic and website designer and TAFE design lecturer; Brianne Sharp, ECU Spectrum coordinator and exhibition curator and Kiri Moore, Visual Art teacher (private education sector) and judging panel member.

On behalf of WASSEA and our partners, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all students and teachers who participated this year. Congratulations to those whose work was selected for exhibition. The 2025 collection is bold, insightful, and full of heart—capturing the essence of what it means to be a Young Original.

MELISSA GILLETT
President: WASSEA