Harry Young has won the major prize for Most Outstanding Artwork at the City of Joondalup’s 2025 Community Art Exhibition.
Young has been a previous winner at the Community Art Exhibition, including the 2013 Artist in Focus award, which led to a solo exhibition with the City.
Young has received a cash prize of $4,000 and joins an esteemed list of past recipients of the highest Community Art Exhibition honour.
Of the winning artwork, entitled Forbidden Skate Ramp, the judges noted: “This small-scale concrete sculpture resonates for its economy of detail, inspiring curiosity about how it is made.
“It captures a local iconic building within Perth’s skyline – the Telstra building - and reflects on the local folklore of the building’s unique roof architecture, which looks like a skate ramp.
“The work’s striking play with scale transforms a large skyscraper into a cute miniature that contrasts its real-scale corporate edifice.”
The annual exhibition, being held at Lakeside Joondalup Shopping City until Saturday 28 June, features over 150 artworks, which were all produced by City of Joondalup residents or members of local arts groups.
This year’s judges were:
- Artist Amy Perejuan-Capone;
- Wardandi Noongar and Ait Koedal artist Tyrown Waigana; and
- Gallerist and Curator Andrew Varano
Joondalup Mayor Albert Jacob said the Community Art Exhibition is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the creative talents of the City’s vibrant arts community.
“First held in 1998, the Community Art Exhibition is a favourite event on our cultural calendar with an impressive array of artworks on display,” Mayor Jacob said.
“The arts are valued in Joondalup, as is the creativity and vibrancy that the visual arts community brings to our region. I’m proud to see the Community Art Exhibition continue to provide a platform for our local artists and tell us about the life and character of this place.
“I congratulate and thank all that are participating in this year’s exhibition for enriching the City with their creativity.”
2025 Community Art Exhibition Category Winners
Most Outstanding Artwork ($4,000 prize) ‘Forbidden Skate Ramp’ by Harry Young
Forbidden Skate Ramp, Harry Young, 2025. Winner: Most Outstanding Artwork
Highly Commended Award ($1,500 prize) ‘My Garden’ by Soyang Lee
Judges’ comments: “This dreamy composition features poetic variations of painterly techniques, mixing illustrative and impressionistic styles. This painting gives a sense of the reverie of time spent in the garden. With their unique and distinctive approach, this artist has found their own visual language.”
My Garden, Soyang Lee, 2025. Winner: Highly Commended
Celebrating Joondalup Award ($1,500 prize) ‘Burns Beach’ by Fred Maris
Judges’ comments: “The spectacular mundanity of this beach scene, mostly carpark and sky, makes an unusual composition for this type of subject. The artist’s use of flat perspective captures the spaciousness of Joondalup beaches, in particular Burns Beach. The artist’s approach is reminiscent of the filmmaker Wes Anderson and artists David Hockney and Jessie Homer French – all masters of world-building within their distinctive aesthetics.”
Burns Beach, Fred Maris, 2025. Winner: Celebrating Joondalup
Student Award ($750 prize) ‘Emerging’ by Pippa Rivett
Judges’ comments: “Through original and varied mark-making, this painting reveals more as the act of viewing unfolds. Its energetic and playful composition shows the artist’s deep dedication. A large, breaching whale acts as a symbol to explore the title’s concept and the possibility of breaking through, growth and transformation.”
11 July update: In addition to the Student Award, 'Emerging' by Pippa Rivett has just been announced as the winner of the $500 Popular Choice Award after receiving the most public votes during the exhibition period. Congratulations Pippa!
Emerging, Pippa Rivett, 2025. Winner: Student Award and Popular Choice Award