Marsden-based artist Nadya Wilson uses her artwork to bridge the distance between different aspects of her heritage.

Nadya, who has an Australian-Malaysian background, was recently announced as the recipient of the 2024 Robyn Daw Young Visual Artist Scholarship.

The new scholarship program honours former Logan City Council employee, the late Robyn Daw, who led the Creative Industries Program from 2012 until the time of her passing in January 2022.

The program is a partnership between Council and the Friend/Daw family.

Eight local artists aged between 18 and 30-years-old, whose practices relate to their cultural backgrounds, were shortlisted, and took part in a four-day professional development and workshop program.

Nadya, 23, was chosen as this year’s emerging artist and will receive a $7000 cash scholarship and private mentorship session.

She uses her artwork to examine the disconnection she feels within her bi-cultural identity.

Her work – for all your words my tongue fails to hold – draws from her mother’s Javanese ancestry.

Special mention was also made of scholarship finalists Sherry Ghorbani and Laura Pittam on their artistic merit and engagement in the program.

City of Logan Mayor Jon Raven said the scholarship program was a fitting tribute to Robyn Daw.

“Ms Daw championed young, multicultural artists in the city and enjoyed working with them,” Cr Raven said.

“With thanks to her tireless work in our city’s creative industries, we congratulate Nadya on being chosen as the program’s inaugural recipient.”

The works of all finalists are now on display as part of Logan Art Gallery’s current exhibition round.

Four new exhibitions – including Postcards from Iran – Zan Zendegi Azadi by Waterford West artist Sheida Vazir-Zadeh – are also on display.

Sheida has combined with Iran-based artist Atousa Manafi for the exhibition, which features a series of photographic and video works depicting everyday gender discrimination experienced by three generations of Iranian women in her family.

This project is supported by the Regional Arts Development Fund which is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Logan City Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

Exhibitions also to be featured include:

• Dodging Chainsaws by Martin Smith, featuring works showcasing both photos and text he has created over the past 20 years.
• Simorgh (Phoenix) – The Mythical Legendary Bird by Razia Ghazal, which tells the stories of love, pain, hope, nostalgia, migration and culture of people she has crossed paths with.
• Lay of the Land by Ann Huthwaite, which explores natural landscapes based on the artist’s personal journey through life.