The fellowship, valued at more than $50,000, will support Nikou’s work for 12 months, providing funding for research, travel, and the creation of new art, which will be showcased at AGSA.
Launched in 2019 with support from the James & Diana Ramsay Foundation, the Guildhouse Fellowship aims to support mid-career South Australian artists and designers. The fellowship offers a transformative opportunity to explore new directions, push artistic boundaries, and engage with the local and international art scene.
Nikou is a sculptor based in South Australia who works with a range of materials. Her art often takes everyday objects and transforms them into sculptures that blend humour, poignancy, and surrealist techniques.
By using unexpected materials like lead, bronze, resin, latex, and ceramics, Nikou’s work gives new life to the ordinary, turning it into something extraordinary. Her art has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is held in major collections, including AGSA, the National Gallery of Australia, and the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Speaking about the fellowship, Nikou said: “I’m truly honoured to receive the Guildhouse Fellowship. This opportunity will allow me to explore new ideas, undertake research, and create art that pushes the limits of my practice. I’m looking forward to sharing the results of my work at AGSA and contributing to South Australia’s vibrant arts scene.”
The 2024 selection panel included AGSA Acting Director Emma Fey, Guildhouse Board Member Christian Hall, and Dr Rebecca Coates, Director of the Monash University Museum of Art.
AGSA Acting Director, Emma Fey, highlighted the importance of the fellowship in supporting local artists.
“Michelle Nikou is an exceptional talent, and this fellowship comes at a pivotal time in her career. We’re eager to see the results of her research and practice when she presents her new work at AGSA,” Emma says.
Now in its fifth year, the Guildhouse Fellowship has supported artists such as Troy-Anthony Baylis (2019), Sera Waters (2020), Liam Fleming (2021), and Tom Philips (2022), all of whom have exhibited their work at AGSA. The 2025 exhibition will showcase new work by 2023 Fellow Kyoko Hashimoto, a contemporary jeweller and designer from South Australia.
More information on the Guildhouse Fellow can be found at guildhouse.org.au
