1 Elizabeth, Macquarie’s global headquarters in Sydney. Photography by Louise Kennerly
Macquarie Group Foundation | FY2025 Annual Review
I’m proud of the Collection’s unique and enduring model of supporting emerging Australian artists by acquiring and displaying their art in Macquarie offices globally.
The 2024 Macquarie Group Emerging Artist Prize had an outstanding group of finalists and we were thrilled to host our opening night in The Art Space gallery in Sydney for the first time.”
Jacqui Vanzella
Chair, Macquarie Group Collection
Executive Director, Financial Management, People and Engagement
The Art Space, a new publicly accessible gallery featuring curated exhibitions including art from the Macquarie Group Collection opened in 1 Elizabeth, part of the Sydney Metro Martin Place precinct and home to our new global headquarters. Featuring curated public art that tells the story of the site’s past, present and future, the precinct is a notable example of cultural integration within transport hubs and privately-owned public spaces.
The Art Space hosted the 2024 Macquarie Group Emerging Artist Prize exhibition.
In FY2025, the Macquarie Group Collection acquired 15 new artworks, supporting the careers of 13 emerging Australian artists. The Collection’s volunteer Art Committee, supported by a curatorial consultant, visited multiple galleries and art fairs to make these acquisitions.
Celebrating its 12th year in 2024, the Macquarie Group Emerging Artist Prize aims to support and highlight the next generation of Australian artists. Artists in the early stage of their careers are invited to enter an original work that reflects the Collection’s theme, The Land and Its Psyche.
The 2024 Emerging Artist Prize was judged by artists Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro. First Prize recipient Mitchell Davis received $A20,000, and his work orange and blue (tent study) was acquired by the Collection.
Mitchell Davis and his work ‘orange and blue (tent study)’. Photography by Flashpoint Labs.
Mitchell lives and works on Gandangara country in the NSW Southern Highlands. In his textile and assemblage-based work he explores cycles of damage and repair, repurposing sentimental materials to redefine their associations and explore ideas of masculinity and identity.
The Highly Commended Award and the Nick Waterlow OAM Highly Commended Award were presented to Lee Coulthard for Imaginary Signals in Blues and Greens and Rhy Dyball for Untitled, respectively.
The Collection has been acquiring art for more than 35 years and an increasing number of Collection artists are now at the stage of holding survey exhibitions that reflect on their art career. The Collection often receives requests to loan art that was acquired by the Collection early in the artists’ career. In the past year, Vincent Namatjira, Self Portrait (Leaving Home), 2019, was loaned for the Namatjira survey exhibition, Australia in colour, initially at the Art Gallery of South Australia in Adelaide and then the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra.
During FY2025, Collection art was installed in Macquarie’s new global headquarters at 1 Elizabeth, Sydney, and our new Americas headquarters at 660 Fifth Avenue, New York. With Collection art also installed in the new Brisbane office, and following an office refurbishment in Houston, Texas, it brings the number of Macquarie offices displaying works to around 40 worldwide.
In FY2025, we invited employees across Macquarie worldwide to join the new Collection Ambassador network. Collection Ambassadors are volunteers who have a keen interest in art and are passionate about sharing the Collection’s unique story.
Ambassadors foster engagement with local colleagues by answering questions about the art on display. Additionally, they provide ideas for staff and client activities centred around the Collection and suggest activities that could support local emerging artists.
