MELBOURNE’s next generation of image-makers is stepping into the spotlight this May at the Museum of Australian Photography (MAPh), with Develop—an annual exhibition showcasing standout 2024 photomedia graduates from across the city’s top tertiary institutions.
Running from 7 May to 16 June 2025, Develop offers a curated glimpse into the fresh talent emerging from six universities, each artist bringing a distinct visual language, technique, and narrative approach to the table. The exhibition not only highlights their technical skill but also serves as a critical launchpad as these young creatives transition from the classroom into the professional art world.
Develop is more than just an exhibition—it’s a vital launchpad for young artists as they take their first steps into the professional world. By offering each artist the chance to present their work in a public setting, MAPh provides an important platform for the next generation of photographers to showcase their fresh perspectives, experiment with new techniques, and begin their careers in the arts.
The exhibition highlights a curated selection of graduates from six different universities, representing the diverse and dynamic landscape of Melbourne’s photographic education. From conceptual explorations of identity and memory to experimental approaches in still-life and portraiture, these artists are pushing the boundaries of what photography can be.
The Artists: A New Generation of Photographers
The artists featured in Develop are an exciting mix of styles, techniques, and backgrounds, each bringing their unique voice to the world of contemporary photomedia. The 2024 cohort includes:
- Georgia Braam (Monash University)
- Sheyda Hasar (Deakin University)
- Lily Hogan (Victorian College of the Arts)
- Kaylee Launder (Swinburne University)
- Anthony Loupetis (Photography Studies College)
- Maya Melrose (RMIT University)
These artists represent a cross-section of Melbourne’s thriving photography scene, each with their own approach to visual storytelling. Whether through intimate portraits, conceptual still-life photography, or expansive landscapes, the work on display covers a wide range of themes and techniques.
“Supporting emerging photographers is vital to ensuring the ongoing innovation and diversity of Australian visual culture.” Angela Connor
Curatorial Vision: Championing New Voices
The exhibition is curated by Angela Connor, MAPh’s Senior Curator, and Stella Loftus-Hills, MAPh Curator. Together, they have carefully selected works that explore the diverse issues and ideas that preoccupy today’s emerging photographers.
“Supporting emerging photographers is vital to ensuring the ongoing innovation and diversity of Australian visual culture,” says Angela Connor. “These early-career artists bring new perspectives, challenging conventions and redefining how we see ourselves and our surroundings. Develop is more than an exhibition—it is an investment in the future of photography. By championing the next generation, we celebrate fresh ideas, technical exploration, and the limitless potential of emerging voices. In doing so, we affirm the importance of photography as both an artistic practice and a critical tool for understanding the world.”
Stella Loftus-Hills adds, “Develop provides an exciting insight into the diverse and thought-provoking photographic work that emerges from Melbourne’s tertiary institutions each year. The artists in this exhibition are engaging in a range of contemporary themes and ideas, such as memory, loss, identity, and our connection to place, history, and ecosystems. Exploring a variety of photographic genres—including portraiture, still-life, and landscape—the artists in this exhibition also experiment with different photographic processes as well as printing methods and modes of presentation.”
Exhibition Highlights: Themes, Techniques, and Inspirations
The works in Develop are not just visually striking—they also invite deeper reflection on the themes that shape our world today. The artists explore ideas such as personal and collective memory, the impact of history on identity, and humanity’s relationship with the environment. Many of the works are deeply introspective, using photography to explore the personal and emotional, while others engage with broader societal and ecological concerns.
One of the standout pieces in the exhibition is Kaylee Launder’s Flower on Sewing Machine (2024) from her series My Body and Mind Eclipsed Me. This intimate yet powerful work combines delicate imagery with a deeply personal narrative, reflecting on themes of identity and mental health. Launder’s careful use of pigment ink-jet printing creates an evocative atmosphere that draws the viewer into a world of personal reflection.
Other artists in the exhibition, such as Sheyda Hasar and Maya Melrose, explore the intersections of culture and place, using innovative techniques to challenge and redefine traditional photographic processes. Their work pushes the boundaries of the medium, experimenting with new ways of creating and presenting photographs.
Exhibition Details: Don’t Miss It!
Develop will be open to the public from 7 May to 16 June 2025, offering ample opportunity to experience the work of Melbourne’s emerging photographic artists. The exhibition is free to visit, and is hosted at the Museum of Australian Photography in Wheelers Hill—a cultural hub for both established and emerging artists in the region.
Key Dates:
- Exhibition Dates: 7 May – 16 June 2025
- Exhibition Launch + Artist Talks: Thursday 15 May 2025, 6pm – 8pm
- Free Entry – RSVP online for the launch event and to view the exhibition virtually.
The launch event will be a special evening where the artists will discuss their work, share their creative journeys, and engage with visitors in a series of artist talks. This is a great opportunity to gain insight into the creative processes behind the works, and to meet the photographers behind the lens.
Venue:
Museum of Australian Photography
860 Ferntree Gully Road, Wheelers Hill VIC
, with Develop—an annual exhibition showcasing standout 2024 photomedia graduates from across the city’s top tertiary institutions.){kind=link}