ACB SELECTS

National Emerging Art Prize co-founder and curator Amber Creswell Bell has handpicked the most beautiful, eye-catching and collectable works from the 2024 awards program’s talent pool for a very special in-person edition of NEAP’s offshoot exhibition, ACB Selects – on view at Michael Reid Northern Beaches in early February 2025.

“One of the great thrills of curating the National Emerging Art Prize every year is reviewing each of the thousands of entries we receive,” says Amber, speaking with Australian House & Garden magazine for an editorial round-up featuring some of the most fabulous art to buy from our upcoming ACB Selects exhibition. “More often than not some will catch my eye that are overlooked by the judges. I trust my gut with these things … the ACB Selects exhibition is a celebration of my picks from the entries.”

NEAP’s 2024 edition received a record number of entries from almost 1700 rising art stars, resulting in a fabulous collection of original, affordable art that was too brilliant and bountiful to be contained within the program’s official exhibition. The strength of these submissions compelled Amber to expand NEAP’s annual offshoot, ACB Selects, turning this online salon des refusés into a specially curated group exhibition at Michael Reid Northern Beaches starring more than 30 up-and-coming painters and ceramicists.

Bringing together the best works of those not officially shortlisted by NEAP’s judging panel, ACB Selects offers first access to the next wave of creative talent. Numerous alumni from previous editions now enjoy successful exhibition careers across the Michael Reid network and beyond.

To request a preview catalogue and priority access to works featured in our ACB Selects exhibition and published in the January 2025 issue of House & Garden, please email northernbeaches@michaelreid.com.au