A Lake Illawarra teenager never used to consider herself much of an artist as sport was more of a dominant fixture in her life, but this year her talents are being featured in an exhibition run by the Art Gallery of NSW.
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A charcoal drawing by Chantell Hore, 18, is currently on exhibition online and at the Tamworth Regional Gallery and Arts Centre as part of ARTXPRESS 2021.
Miss Hore is one in a handful of young artistic achievers from the Illawarra* hand-picked for the 37th celebration of HSC works from 2020.
"You have to do art in year 7 and 8 but I always tried to steer away from art as I was more into photography and I've never been much of an artist - I was always playing some sort of sport," she said.
It was her high-school photography teacher than noticed her talent first and encouraged her create drawing for her final work.
I've never been much of an artist - I was always playing some sort of sport.
- Chantell Hore
Being included in ARTXPRESS came as "a complete shock" to Miss Hore, who is still very humble about her skill.
Other Illawarra students included are Milla Crittle, Blake Douglas, Charisse Gregory and Ella de Graaf-Clark.
The exhibition encompasses a broad range of approaches and expressive forms, including ceramics, collection of works, documented forms, drawing, graphic design, painting, photomedia, printmaking, sculpture, textiles and fibre, and time-based forms.
The Art Gallery of NSW is the main venue for ARTEXPRESS, though dozens of other galleries across the state will also feature the works of many outstanding students.
This year they have also included an online exhibition, labelled by event organisers as "a 360-degree immersive experience", to be seen via the Art Gallery of NSW website.
Art Gallery of NSW director Michael Brand commended the Class of 2020 for their perseverance " during one of the most challenging years on record".
"Creative pursuits can provide great comfort in difficult times and it is our hope that this year's cohort found solace in their artmaking, as well as a sense of defiance," Dr Brand said.
"The high standard of work on show is a testament to the tremendous talent and resilience of students and teachers in NSW who adapted to change and overcame challenges - from bushfires to the pandemic - to complete their studies.
"We are delighted to share their work with the thousands of visitors who look forward to this annual exhibition, which has become one of our most popular."
- Illawarra students included in this article were on exhibition at the time the article went to print, and may not be an exhaustive list.
FROM THE ILLAWARRA
Milla Crittle -Thompson Bulli HS - Cowra Regional Art Gallery
Blake Douglas - Bulli HS - Hazelhurst Regional Gallery & Arts Centre
Charisse Gregory - Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts - Hazelhurst Regional Gallery & Arts Centre, Grafton Regional Gallery and the online Virtual Exhibition
Chantell Hore - Lake Illawarra High School - Tamworth Regional Gallery and the online Virtual Exhibition
Ella de Graaf-Clark - TIGS - Hazelhurst Regional Gallery & Arts Centre