2nd Prize Winner
Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Award
Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2025
Jessica Murtagh
Title:
“Brunch with Narcissus”
Medium & Dimensions:
Blown glass, sandcarved and engraved, 58 x 30 x 30 cm.
About the Artist
Jessica Murtagh is an Australian based artist working with blown glass and holds a Master’s in Design (Contemporary Art) from the University of South Australia. Her arts practice leans heavily on illustration, using sandcarving and engraving techniques to create imagery and narratives on glass. Her work is predominantly in the form of vessels, which are both functional and sculptural, ranging from vibrant and dramatic to subdued. She draws inspiration from both the natural world and classical artifacts, contrasted with contemporary themes. Jessica’s narrative work is inspired by antiquities from past societies such as the ancient Athenians. These artifacts made of stone, ceramic, metal and glass give glimpses into the stories of their lives, from godly deeds to tableaus depicting everyday moments. Illustrations of the common, mundane scenes of ordinary people are of particular influence on Murtagh’s body of work and a fascination with history and ancient relics has led to the exploration of what future artifacts could be and to question what our contemporary culture will one day leave behind. She has exhibited in numerous prizes and exhibitions around Australia including at the National Gallery of Victoria for the 2023 Triennial and was awarded the second prize in the inaugural Make Award. Jessica’s work is held in a number of Australian national galleries and was recently collected by the Geelong Gallery, the Powerhouse Museum and the National Gallery of Victoria.
“Brunch with Narcissus”: reimagines the ancient Greek amphora in blown glass, blending classical form with contemporary context. Instead of mythological scenes, this vessel depicts a familiar modern weekend ritual, brunch. Friends pose for the ‘gram and a woman stand before a curated selfie wall, mirroring Narcissus’ obsession with his own reflection. The smart phone and selfie are so ubiquitous in contemporary culture and casual behavior that it’s simply an accepted part of life. By placing them on a form traditionally used to record and preserve, the work reflects on how we present ourselves, what we memorialize and how these moments might be seen through the lens of history. What will future civilizations one day make of our lives lived through the glowing screen of the smart phone?
