Celebrating more community artworks

Published on 05 January 2025

Stonnington has added to our already extensive collection of contemporary artworks with some stunning new pieces recently acquired for our community to enjoy.

The new works were selected based on their cultural value to our community and deliver on our commitment to supporting emerging and established artists. They include a mix of sculpture, prints and photography by local, international and First Nations artists. 

One of these pieces, which is part of the Contemporary Art Collection, is Saskia (pictured here) by Kylie Banyard.

Kylie Banyard (born 1974) is a multidisciplinary artist and educator. Her artistic practice is grounded in painting and intersects with photography, video, sculpture, and immersive architectural spaces. Banyard has been included in significant group exhibitions nationally and internationally.

The committee recommended Saskia as it is an embodiment of the sense of creativity and possibility that is central to the City of Stonnington. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Prahran became a vibrant artistic hub with many of Melbourne’s most prominent artists such as Howard Arkley and Elizabeth Gower residing in the area.

Banyard’s image of art student Saskia in her element making art, calls to mind the significant role the municipality’s teaching institutions, such as Prahran College and Victoria College, have played for some of Australia’s most important contemporary artists.

We invite you to discover the beauty and cultural significance of our art collection on display throughout our civic buildings, facilities, libraries and offices. 

Learn more about our visual arts program and our contemporary artwork collection.