Press Archive – Lexus Scholarship Boosts Young Artist’s Career

01-12-2000 – Inner West Courier

One of Australia’s most promising artists has received a major career boost after being named as the latest recipient of the Lexus Arthur Boyd Art Scholarship. Nafisa Naomi was awarded the 1999 Lexus Arthur Boyd Scholarship at the opening of the Julian Ashton Art School’s 1998 student and teacher exhibition. The scholarship will provide the Glebe artist with a year’s full time tuition at the famous art school. The Julian Ashton Art School was established in 1890 and is Australia’s oldest continuously functioning art school. Great-grandson of Julian Ashton and the art school’s current principal, Paul Delprat, said the scholarship was just reward for Nafisa’s talent and her commitment to her career. “Nafisa is an appropriate winner of the Lexus Arthur Boyd Art Scholarship,” Mr Delprat said. “She understands the beauty of design and is a perfectionist. “Nafisa has a wonderful sense of design and is a person who searches for beauty, colour and originality.” Nafisa said the award was a feather in her cap and a boost for her fledgling career. She has set herself the goal of a solo exhibition in the year 2000. Lexus Australia’s manager – marketing communications, Duncan Harvey, said Lexus was proud to support the endeavours of promising Australian artists through the scholarship. “The Lexus Arthur Boyd Art Scholarship will assist Nafisa to pursue excellence in her career as Lexus pursues excellence in the automotive field,” he said. “It is also a great opportunity to support the work of one of Australia’s finest and most famous classical art schools.” The Lexus Arthur Boyd Art Scholarship will change direction in 1999 with the school’s leading students asked to present their interpretation of Lexus. Lexus also supports the arts through major sponsorship of the Sydney Opera House. Lexus is a major sponsor of the Dame Kiri Te Kanawa tour of Australia.

To learn more about Nafisa’s work visit her website: www.nafisanaomi.com