n the sunlit North Wing of the Art Gallery of New South Wales's (AGNSW) new contemporary art building, Australia and La Prairie hosted lunch in celebration of this year's La Prairie Art Award winner, Filipino-Australian artist Marikit Santiago. Now in its third year, the accolade has been a beacon for emerging visual artists, including past winners Atong Atem and Thea Anamara Perkins, and this year recognises Santiago, a three-time Archibald finalist. Along with industry recognition, the prize consists of an acquisition, an international residency and the privilege of attending Art Basel International Art Fair 2024 in June as a guest of La Prairie. Those in attendance surveyed a diptych by Santiago (the acquisition which now hangs in the AGNSW) before enjoying a sumptuous lunch during which Australia's Edwina McCann engaged in lively dialogue with Santiago and AGNSW's senior curator Beatrice Gralton exploring the artist's influences, techniques and integration of motherhood into her process. To end the day, La Prairie offered hand massages at its ‘Art of Perfection’ stations.
