Queensland College of Art (QCA) Bachelor of Fine Art graduate, Bridgette Shepherd has been selected as a finalist in the 2014 National Contemporary Jewellery Award (NCJA).
Bridgette, who majored in Jewellery and Small Objects at QCA, is the only Queenslander amongst 25 finalists from across the country.
Her series of brooches, ‘Grandparent Portrait Series’, will be exhibited at the Griffith Regional Art Gallery and will tour to Courtesy of the Artist gallery in Sydney and Sturt Contemporary Craft and Design gallery in Mittagong.
The NCJA program started in the town of Griffith 22 years ago and is the Art Gallery’s major exhibition for the year, bringing together Australia’s established and emerging contemporary jewellery practitioners.
Bridgette says she’s flattered to be recognised alongside jewellers she studied as part of her degree.
“It is very exciting to be included in such an esteemed award with so many jewellers I looked up to during my studies at QCA,” she said.
“It’s also wonderful to participate in a national touring exhibition.”
One of the two judges, part-time lecturer at Monash Art, Design and Architecture in Melbourne, Manon Van Kouswijk, who is also an artist and jeweller, says the award offers fantastic opportunities for finalists.
“The NCJA is a great opportunity for Australian jewellery students and professionals to have their work shown in an exhibition and to win a very attractive residency or a major prize,” she said.
The National Contemporary Jewellery Award program at the Griffith Regional Art Gallery will be open from September 5-28.
Find out more about Bridgette, who graduated from QCA in 2013, and view more of her work on her website.
Read more about studying Fine Art at the Queensland College of Art.