At an age when many kids still haven’t set foot inside an art gallery, Altona eight-year-old Lukas Latimer and his six-year-old sister Maci are about to have their work exhibited in one.
The St Mary’s Primary School students have entered SMALL! 2025, an art prize for small artworks of no more than 20cm square.
But while the art and the artists are small, the potential prize isn’t.
As well as being displayed alongside other entries at the 45 Downstairs Gallery in Flinders Lane from 26 November, Luka and Maci’s artworks are also on sale for $150 each.
That’s a lot of pocket money.
Fortunately, they have their grandmother – well-known inner-west artist Julee Latimer – to guide them through the sale process and foster their creativity.
“Lukas and Maci have their own art studio attached to mine in Westona and they work in it often,” Latimer said.
“During school breaks we do longer projects and the latest was learning how to make linear abstractions using layers of masking tape and various colour paints.”
Latimer said when she saw the callout for Small! 2025 and noticed there was no age minimum, she asked her grandchildren if they wanted to enter and received an enthusiastic yes.
With their works about to go on display and on sale, the pair’s enthusiasm has only grown.
“I am really excited to be in the exhibition,” Maci said.
“I hope someone buys my artwork,” added Lukas.
The Small! 2025 exhibition runs from 26 November to 17 December.
Details: https://fortyfivedownstairs.com/
