Art students explore Rat Barbies, AI and two-sided human forms

High school artists have been in the spotlight after 17-year-old student Jazz Lancaster Merton was crowned the 2026 Portrait Artist of the Year.

This month, secondary students in Western Australia's south-west region have had their chance to show their work in a professional setting, through a beloved community exhibition that has been running for 35 years.

Artist and arts educator Charlotte White, who was a judge at this year's Iluka Visions at Bunbury Regional Gallery, said it was an important launch pad for arts student careers.

Here are five artworks she says you should see at the exhibition:

I don’t think you see me — Emmasyn Dillon

Emmasyn Dillon's mixed media sculpture received the Viewer's Choice Award and overall Best Year 11 and 12 Award.

White said she was captivated by the construction of the life-sized figure and the emotional depth to the two-sided sculpture. 

"[It's amazing] to think about the technical skills to creating something like this, so not only thinking about a body sitting on a chair, but how that is going to be balanced with another figure coming out the back," she said.

"The more you look at this work, the more you can get out of it."

Rat Barbie — Remy Mathieson

One of White's favourite works was Remy Mathieson's small doll-sized rat dolls, made with resin, paint, textiles, leather and wood.

"She's gone as far as to create custom costumes and they have little trinkets in their jackets, and there's character backgrounds next to each doll talking about who they are and what they do," she said.

"I almost want to see a story or a movie or something that like moves on from just these characters — I want to know more about them."

To Err is Human, To Forgive is Divine — Pia Mangano

White said this work was selected for the best Year 11 and 12 3D Award because of its role as a thought-provoking and interactive conversational piece.

The question 'Does the inclusion of AI in art mean the end of human creativity?' is written under the sculpture and encourages viewers to ink their fingerprint under the 'yes' or 'no' column.

"It made me realise that these young artists are actually talking about big topics," White said.

"And it was really remarkable that they're not just creating art; they're inviting the audience to have a bit of a debate about things."

All That Floats Away — Beccy Mason

The winner of the Year 9 and 10 Best Overall Artwork, All That Floats Away, was made out of cardboard, tissue paper, shellac, wire mesh and bamboo skewers.

White said it conveyed a sense of nostalgia and wonder.

"It had really a really interesting concept with a great use of those everyday materials and using them in a really interesting way," White said.

She also said the work was reminiscent of the renowned Japanese animation storytellers, Studio Ghibli.

"It had an imaginative, creative playfulness ... it's suspended and hanging within the gallery like it's sort of flying through."

It's a Wrap — Newton Moore Education Support Centre

White also highlighted this playful work of sticks wrapped in yarn, which was a collaboration between students at the Newton Moore Education Support Centre.

It's a Wrap won the Equity Award.

"I can imagine it was tricky for some to create this, but it's a really beautiful piece," White said.

"It's so colourful and textured; it's coming out from the wall and there's pom-poms and there's beads.

"We just really loved this work and how the students have created it together to create this really beautiful well-rounded piece."

Iluka Visions is at Bunbury Regional Gallery until November 15.