To celebrate 100 years of public collecting at the Manly Art Gallery & Museum, a major work by contemporary Australia artist Jude Rae has been specially commissioned. The still life oil painting will include within it a prized piece from MAG&M’s Collection, and will be unveiled on 30 August 2024. The acquisition is being made possible with funds provided by MAG&M Society and private donors. 

Jude's selection as a commissioned artist is of particularly significance to MAG&M as she grew up on the Northern Beaches. The commissioning of an artist with local association adds an additional layer of community-connection to this celebratory 100-year project.

Jude Rae is a two times winner of the Portia Geach Memorial Award, three times Highly Commended finalist of the Archibald Prize and the recipient of the prestigious Bulgari Art Award presented in partnership with the Art Gallery of NSW.

Jude Rae is a Sydney based artist primarily known for her still life paintings, portraits and architectural interiors. The low key, non-narrative imagery she employs allows the attention to dwell on the formal and material aspects of representational painting, encouraging a more reflective and considered approach to the complexities of visual experience.

After graduating in Fine Arts (History) at Sydney University Jude taught at City Art Institute (University of NSW) and in 1987 had her first solo show with Painters Gallery. At this time, she was also a founding member of the Ultimo Project Studios, an urban housing co-operative for artists in Sydney. In 1989 she moved to London and later to New Zealand where she was the first Director of South Island Art Projects, which today exists as the Physics Room (Christchurch, NZ). 

Over the last thirty years Jude has exhibited her work in Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the USA. She has been awarded residencies in France, Italy and New Zealand and has taught at a variety of art schools including Auckland University, the Australian National University and most recently at the National Art School (Sydney). In 2005 and 2008, Jude won the Portia Geach Memorial Award for Portraiture and in 2014 she was a finalist in the Archibald Prize, in which she was also Highly Commended in 2019 and 2021. 

In 2016 Jude Rae was the recipient of the prestigious Bulgari Award presented in partnership with the Art Gallery of NSW and in 2017 a survey of her work was held at the Australian National University Drill Hall Gallery. Her work is held in major public and private collections in Australia, New Zealand, UK and USA.

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