Atong ATEM

Melbourne-based artist Atong Atem's vibrant and full-of-life portraits earned her the inaugural La Prairie Art Award, a prestige awarded to Australia’s top female artists. Combining photography and hand painting, Atong's striking artwork is a response to Eurocentric teachings and a voice for untold histories. Of South Sudanese heritage, the artist is drawn to the space left for uncelebrated African culture in art. This pursuit to capture truths untold has led Atong to seek out and dissect the depths of colonial destruction. We speak with Atong about inspiration awaiting in unsung moments, life in Melbourne, and her top Travel Gems to explore the Victorian capital.