A collection of extraordinary visual art pieces inspired by the Saints were unveiled as part of this year’s Clancy Religious Art Prize and Exhibition.

The opening night of the exhibition, held at the McGlade Gallery at the Australian Catholic University on Friday 5 September, saw the announcement of 17 individual and collaborative awards, including the coveted Executive Director’s Award.

Marist Catholic College North Shore student Suki Delaney was the deserving recipient this year, with her painting of Saint Rita of Cascia being selected as the outstanding work by Sydney Catholic Schools Executive Director Danielle Cronin. 

“Saint Rita’s life is a powerful testament to transformation, turning pain into peace, suffering into strength, and impossibility into hope,” said Suki. 

“She shows us that hope is not something fleeting or fragile, but something anchored in a lifetime of faith and trust in God.

“This artwork is a tribute to her quiet strength and her unwavering witness to the divine love, even in the face of life’s greatest challenges.” 

This year’s theme, Saints Anchored in Hope, was in alignment with the overarching theme of the Jubilee Year, Pilgrims of Hope. 

The theme encouraged our young artists to reflect on the lives of the Saints who have gone before us, and draw inspiration from their unwavering faith, perseverance and trust in God’s promises. 

The Clancy Prize was first launched in 1999 by Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Edward Clancy, who recognised the importance of religious art as a powerful force in the service of humanity. 

Today, it’s open to all Sydney Archdiocese secondary students, offering them a chance to celebrate their connection to God and the Catholic tradition, and to showcase …

A collection of extraordinary visual art pieces inspired by the Saints were unveiled as part of this year’s Clancy Religious Art Prize and Exhibition.

The opening night of the exhibition, held at the McGlade Gallery at the Australian Catholic University, saw the announcement of a number of individual and collaborative works winners, including the coveted Executive Director’s Award.

Clancy Catholic College West Hoxton Year 11 student Ashley Janus was the deserving recipient this year, with her drawing, St Pope John Paul II – Swięty pokoj – Saint of Peace, being selected as the outstanding piece by Sydney Catholic Schools’ Interim Executive Director, Peter Turner. 

The Clancy Prize was first launched in 1999 by Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Edward Clancy, who recognised the importance of religious art as a powerful force in the service of humanity. 

Today, it’s open to all Sydney Archdiocese secondary students, offering them a chance to celebrate their connection to God and the Catholic tradition and to showcase their extraordinary talents in the visual arts. 

The theme of the 2024 exhibition was Saints of Hope, with students drawing upon the impacts and legacies of some of the Church’s most important and influential figures. 

The exhibition will remain open to the public until Friday 27 September. 

Congratulations to all students who submitted entries into this year’s competition and well done to those selected as winners.  

2024 CLANCY RELIGIOUS ART PRIZE WINNERS

The Executive Director’s Award
Ashley Janus – Clancy Catholic College West Hoxton
St Pope John Paul II – Swięty pokoj – Saint of Peace

The Monsignor Doherty Prize
Scarlett Horne – Bethany College Hurstville
Ever Present Hope

The Monsignor Doherty Prize – 2nd place
Leo Ly – Patrician Brothers College …