- Exhibition
Meroogal Women’s Art Prize 2020
Now Showing
Artists across NSW were invited to create works that respond to Meroogal and its sense of place. In their selection of finalists from hundreds of entries, our judges looked for artworks that cast new light on the stories of the people who lived here, and the house’s rich and diverse collection of treasures.
The work of the 40 finalists is exhibited in the historic house of Meroogal until 17 April 2021.
Visit the house and make sure to vote for your favourite artwork in the People's Choice Awards. Pre-book your tickets now.
Finalists
- Vilma Bader
- Linda Balding
- Deborah Beck
- Ali Beck
- Lee Bethel
- Jane Burton Taylor
- Indira Carmichael
- Hannah Cooper
- Karen Coull
- Kaz Davis
- Kate Dorrough
- Rosalie Duligal
- Tamara Ealey
- Helen Earl
- Tina Fox
- Claire Gibbon
- Sarah Goffman
- Barbara Huntington
- Anita Johnson Larkin
- Sally Khurshed
- Rosy Lloyd
- Anna Lochtenberg- Williams
- Grace Ludemann
- Sarah McEwan
- Jo Mellor
- Helen Mountford
- Sassy Park
- Janet Parker-Smith
- Julie Paterson
- Mary Preece
- Adrienne Richards
- Lesley Richman
- Ebony Russell
- Penny Sadubin
- Nicole Smede & Leanne Waterhouse
- Chris Smith
- Kim Stanford
- Sue Tesoriero
- Kate Vella
Special Offer
To celebrate summer, we're offering 20% off membership throughout January 2021.
Simply add the promo code SUMMER or access via the link below.
Offer available 1 - 31 January 2021. This offer is not available on gift membership purchases.

Open Saturdays, 10am–4pm, including Boxing Day
BOOK TICKETS
Because of limited capacity within the house museum, visitors are encouraged to pre-purchase timed session tickets online before their visit.
You can only visit the house on a guided tour. Our tours last for about an hour, starting at 10am, 11am, 12noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. To avoid potential disappointment we ask that you arrive 5-10 mins prior to your booked time. Due to COVID staffing requirements, late arrivals may not be allowed entry.
Please read our important COVID-19 conditions of entry before booking your ticket.
Related event
To view the full artwork, please click on the image.

Sarah Goffman, Winner
Sarah Goffman
Blue willow
plastic, permanent marker, clay
I imagine the ubiquitous blue willow–patterned plates or cups being used in Meroogal’s past. By simulating the pattern on contemporary plastics designated for waste, I imbue them with a new life.

Sarah Goffman
Blue willow
plastic, permanent marker, clay
I imagine the ubiquitous blue willow–patterned plates or cups being used in Meroogal’s past. By simulating the pattern on contemporary plastics designated for waste, I imbue them with a new life.

Sassy Park, Second Prize
Sassy Park
Garden play set
ceramic, wood (found object)
Kate cuts flowers. George feeds the chickens. Belle spies a rabbit and listens to the little bird sing. The residents and animals of Meroogal have become miniaturised in Garden play set. Freely modelled and painted in various clays and finishes, these ceramic figures conjure the nostalgia of wooden Erzgebirge toys and Staffordshire figurines. Inspired by the transformation of objects played with from my grandparents’ china cabinet, these treasures play out their narrative on the space of a red lacquered tray.

Sassy Park
Garden play set
ceramic, wood (found object)
Kate cuts flowers. George feeds the chickens. Belle spies a rabbit and listens to the little bird sing. The residents and animals of Meroogal have become miniaturised in Garden play set. Freely modelled and painted in various clays and finishes, these ceramic figures conjure the nostalgia of wooden Erzgebirge toys and Staffordshire figurines. Inspired by the transformation of objects played with from my grandparents’ china cabinet, these treasures play out their narrative on the space of a red lacquered tray.

Julie Patterson, Highly Commended
Julie Patterson
A dozen modest fancies
printed linen, vintage chair
Over four generations, the Meroogal women created a genteel and modest space that hums with comfort, colour and connectedness. Capable and thrifty, the Thorburn and Macgregor women made things, made do, and made good choices. Standing in the parlour, I imagined Tot’s nieces Margaret, Helen and Elgin wanting to re-cover a generous armchair they’ve stripped to the ticking. Over a pot of strong tea, they flip through a well-loved sample book, considering which of these fabrics they most fancy.

Julie Patterson
A dozen modest fancies
printed linen, vintage chair
Over four generations, the Meroogal women created a genteel and modest space that hums with comfort, colour and connectedness. Capable and thrifty, the Thorburn and Macgregor women made things, made do, and made good choices. Standing in the parlour, I imagined Tot’s nieces Margaret, Helen and Elgin wanting to re-cover a generous armchair they’ve stripped to the ticking. Over a pot of strong tea, they flip through a well-loved sample book, considering which of these fabrics they most fancy.
To view the full artwork, please click on the image.








































Vilma Bader
Vilma Bader, 'Needles and Pins', acrylic, canvas, textile

Lee Bethel
Lee Bethel, 'The Garden's Curtain', watercolour on hand cut paper

Indira Carmichael
Indira Carmichael, 'Unlocked', the artist's hair, baby teeth, horse hair, freshwater pearls, antique padlock, vintage Morrows tin

Helen Earl
Helen Earl, 'Time Spent', ceramic

Sally Khurshed
Sally Khurshed, 'Kitchen Shelf', earthenware clay, glaze, stains

Grace Ludemann
Grace Ludemann, 'when I sit and sew, I often think of those loved ones who have gone', mixed media zootrope

Jo Mellor
Jo Mellor, 'In the Meroogal Garden', textile linen print, hand sewn with wool, embroidery cotton and beads, Tasmanian oak frame

Lesley Richman
Lesley Richman, 'Tea Senses', embroidery on linen

Sue Tesoriero
Sue Tesoriero, 'For Generations II', oil on board

Sue Tesoriero
Sue Tesoriero, 'For Generations', oil on board

Anita Johnson Larkin
Anita Johnson Larkin, 'This land keeps me from falling, falling', my fathers walking stick, fired clay

Jane Burton Taylor
Jane Burton Taylor, 'Wallpaper', assemblage, digital print on cotton rag, 1/1

Anna Lochtenberg-Williams
Anna Lochtenberg-Williams, 'Shadows of the day', assemblage

Kate Vella
Kate Vella, 'Memories', acrylic on canvas

Chris Smith
Chris Smith, 'Signs of the Times', acrylic on recycled pallets

Ebony Russell
Ebony Russell, 'She could rearrange the flowers', set of decorative urns, porcelain and stain

Adrienne Richards
Adrienne Richards, 'Their love and recipes, remade', glazed ceramic

Helen Mountford
Helen Mountford, 'Aunty Ol', acrylic and pastel on board

Claire Gibbon
Claire Gibbon, 'KIN', handmade paper

Barbara Huntington
Barbara Huntington, 'Connection', knitted wool

Janet Parker-Smith
Janet Parker-Smith, 'Inherent Indulgence', etched copper and sublimation print

Mary Preece
Mary Preece, 'Reliquary for Ova', textile

Penny Sadubin
Penny Sadubin, 'Self-portrait in the bedroom mirror', oil on plywood with collage elements-wire and nail

Kim Stanford
Kim Stanford, 'Interlace', cross stitch, linen and hand-dyed thread

Hannah Cooper
Hannah Cooper, 'If these walls could talk', woven cotton and wool

Karen Coull
Karen Coull, 'Where have all the flowers gone?', recycled and vintage paper collaged on canvas

Karen Coull
Karen Coull, 'The Art of Drawn-Work', vintage paper and thread

Tamara Ealey
Tamara Ealey, 'Home', acrylic on canvas

Linda Balding
Linda Balding, 'Shadows From The Peach Tree', screen printed, hand painted, textile hanging

Deborah Beck
Deborah Beck, 'Meroogal kitchen screen', oil on canvas

Rosalie Duligal
Rosalie Duligal, 'Parlour Tea', ceramic

Kate Dorrough
Kate Dorrough, 'Mrs Jessie Thorburn and her four daughters', cement, timber, acrylic paint, ceramic shards, buttons, artificial flowers, shells

Tina Fox
Tina Fox, 'If they wish to be wholesome II', cotton

Anita Johnson Larkin
Anita Johnson Larkin, 'Between the sheets', bed sheets, salvaged objects, books of love poetry, book of ladies recitations, beeswax

Rosy Lloyd
Rosy Lloyd, 'House Icon', oil on panel

Sarah McEwan
Sarah McEwan, 'North and South-Gwynneville and Nowra-Mimi and Tottie', acrylic, oik and ash on canvas

Ali Beck
Ali Beck, 'Pleasure Garden', graphite, pen, watercolour, pressed flowers

Kaz Davis
Kaz Davis, 'home made', wheel thrown porcelain and stoneware, glazes

Nicole Smede and Leanne Waterhouse
Nicole Smede and Leanne Waterhouse, 'Engulfed', audio work
This work features Dharawal, Gumea Dharawal and Dhurga languages. The artists acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters where this work was created; their Lore, language, songs, stories and customs cradled in Country and spirit. Sovereignty was never ceeded. Wanyimbuwanyimbu guni-la wanyimbuwanyimbu guni-y. (Always was, always will be).
Listen here: https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks...
Media release
Meroogal Women’s Art Prize 2020 Winners’ AnnouncementWednesday 23 September 2020
The Meroogal Women’s Art Prize celebrates the creativity of female artists in NSW. The 2020 Winners were announced at a modest event at the Meroogal house museum.
