Winners To Be Announced In Prestigious Libris Art Awards

Prepare to be captivated as the prestigious Libris Awards 2025: The Australian Artists Book Prize is launched at Artspace Mackay after a three-year hiatus!

This highly anticipated event brings together the finest works by leading and emerging artists’ book makers from across Australia.

The shortlisted entrants in the Libris Awards will be exhibited at Artspace from July 5 to September 14, with the winners announced at a special exhibition opening event on July 5.

Mayor Greg Williamson said the exhibition was a unique opportunity to see some outstanding artwork from a diverse range of artists.

“The artists have explored different themes through their books, including the ongoing impacts of climate change, identity and belonging, the search for connection and intimacy, and political issues,” Mayor Williamson said.

“I encourage everyone to head to Artspace Mackay and view these stunning works, as well as the works of two other new exhibitions open at the gallery,” he said.

With support from major sponsor Daly Bay, prize money has increased across all categories and, thanks to a partnership with the Queensland College of Art and Design’s Cobalt Editions, Artspace will also host the 2025 abbe Conference and Artists Book Fair.

This two-day conference, on July 4 and 5, brings together practising artists, postgraduate students and professionals in the field to present papers examining two distinct themes – ‘Contemporary Artists Book Practice’ and ‘Mapping Australia’s Artists Book Histories: A Group Effort’.

The Artists Book Fair is an opportunity for artists, designers and makers to showcase their artists’ book and printmaking practice to gallery professionals, academics, artist peers and collectors.

In conjunction with the Libris Awards, Artspace Mackay will host a range of programs and events, including bookbinding workshops and demonstrations at the Moveable Type Studio.

Other new exhibitions launching at Artspace Mackay include:

Neil Binnie: Architectonics and Observations, June 28 to September 14, Foundation Gallery
Townsville-based artist Neil Binnie presents a new series of collages, small-scale paintings and drawings inspired by his time in Mackay. Binnie’s exhibition, Architectonics and Observations, deconstructs the architectural elements of Mackay, particularly its Art Deco style, to reveal the minimalistic beauty of geometric and spatial forms in our urban landscape.

Karike Ashworth: Home, July 5 to September 14, The Foyer Gallery
Following her two-week residency at Artspace Mackay in February, Brisbane-based artist Karike Ashworth returns with Home, an exhibition co-curated with Artspace Mackay. This exhibition explores the concept of the domestic space and features Ashworth’s new work, Domestic Topography. The exhibition includes carefully selected pieces from the gallery’s permanent collection to facilitate dialogue about violence in the home, the home as safe/unsafe, and who gets to be safe in the home.

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