MCA Australia announces Thomas J Price as the inaugural Neil Balnaves Tallawoladah Lawn Commission artist

[17 October 2024, Sydney] The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA Australia) is delighted to announce Thomas J Price as the recipient of the inaugural Neil Balnaves Tallawoladah Lawn Commission.

The announcement of Thomas J Price represents an exciting moment for the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and Sydney. This is the first contemporary sculptural commission for the iconic Tallawoladah Lawn, in front of MCA Australia, overlooking Warrane, Sydney Harbour at Circular Quay, to be presented annually over the next three years.

Born in London in 1981, Thomas J Price is renowned for his large-scale sculptural works of fictional figures that bring together traditional sculpting methods with digital technology. In these works, the artist plays with scale, material and detail to challenge and surprise the viewer and confront preconceived attitudes towards representation and entrenched power structures.

In contrast to traditional public monuments commemorating historical figures, Price’s sculptural works reframe the ordinary as extraordinary and celebrate individuals engaged in everyday activity; disrupting the ways in which we predetermine value. In utilising Western sculptural traditions to elevate the everyday lives of people of colour, Price’s brilliantly “ordinary” sculptures prompt audiences to consider their own socially conditioned attitudes.

This landmark annual commissioning series on the historic and culturally significant site of Tallawoladah, advances Sydney’s position as one of Australia’s leading cultural destinations. The Commission offers an exceptional opportunity for millions of Australians and visitors to engage with world-leading contemporary art and ideas, beyond the walls of the Museum.

Thomas J Price’s newly created work will be unveiled in Spring 2025 and remain on public display until Autumn 2026.

The Neil Balnaves Tallawoladah Lawn Commission is named in honour of Australian philanthropist Neil Balnaves AO (1944–2022) and made possible by the generous support of The Balnaves Foundation.

Tallawoladah is the traditional lands of the Gadigal people and has been home to stories, art and culture for over 65,000 years.

Suzanne Cotter, MCA Australia Director said, ‘We could not be more pleased to be announcing Thomas J Price as the first artist to create a new publicly sited sculpture for our inaugural Neil Balnaves Tallawoladah Lawn Commission. Thomas’s work is boldly dramatic and irresistibly generous in its call to see one another as we are and its cues for deeper human connection. We are excited for the many visitors to this culturally and significant site to access and experience his art at all times of the day.’

Hamish Balnaves, CEO, The Balnaves Foundation said, ‘The Balnaves family is delighted to partner with the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia on this extraordinary project and we are excited that Thomas J Price will be the inaugural artist for the Neil Balnaves Tallawoladah Lawn Commission. Price’s relatable, thought provoking, bold and engaging works resonate deeply with my father, Neil Balnaves’, life-long commitment to enrich people’s lives through art and this Commission is a fitting tribute to his life, legacy and memory.’

Artist Thomas J Price said, ’I’m honoured to be the first recipient of the inaugural Neil Balnaves Tallawoladah Lawn Commission. Public sculpture has been a vital element of my practice for over two decades, dismantling perceptions of historical figures of power and presenting an alternative that celebrates us all.  For me, sculpture is about understanding your environment and your place in space, your connection to others and capacity for empathy. My ambition has always been that these works would bring communities closer together and live in the public realm as silent totems for change.’

About the artist

Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA Australia)
The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA Australia) presents, collects and engages with the art of our time. Guided by the principles of belonging, connection and influence, we aim to be the defining platform for contemporary art and ideas in Australia and beyond. Located on Sydney Harbour at Tallawoladah, a home to stories, art and culture for over 65,000 years, we connect the widest possible public to contemporary art through exhibitions, events, creative learning and access programs. Our evolving Collection of over 4,700 artworks is the only public collection in Australia dedicated to the work of living artists, with over a third represented by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. As an independent, not-for-profit organization, MCA Australia raises over 80% of its revenue each year through donations and commercial activities to deliver its artistic and engagement programs.