Parramatta artist Marikit Santiago is the 2024 La Prairie Art Award recipient

Guilt may follow a western Sydney woman’s choice to be an artist, but elation prevailed when she learned her paintings would become part of the Art Gallery of NSW’s permanent collection.

La Prairie Art Award recipient Marikit Santiago and her artworks 'A Seat at the Table (Magulang)' 2022 (Left) and 'A Seat at the Table (Kapatid)' 2022.

Guilt may still be embedded with artist Marikit Santiago but surprise and elation prevailed when the Parramatta artist learned she had been named the recipient of the 2024 La Prairie Art Award.

The acquisitive award champions Australian women artists whose work will find a permanent home in the coveted Art Gallery of NSW collection and a residency in Europe.

It was also rewarding to be crowned the winner for a prize that does not call for submissions, such as the Archibald for which Santiago, 38, has been a finalist three times.

She was oblivious to how her two paintings of her Filipino-Australian family, called A Seat at the Table (Magulang and Kapatid) garnered the attention of curators but is most thrilled her heritage and western Sydney roots will find a home in the gallery.

She says she, like most western Sydney artists, feel representation is important to the region and is proud her portraits celebrate her parents as hardworking migrants.

Marikit Santiago’s 'A Seat at the Table (Magulang)' 2022 uses acrylic, oil, pen and gold leaf on cardboard.

Santiago says the sacrifices of her architect dad and data entry and dental surgery assistant mum allowed her and her sister to pursue artistic and marketing careers respectively.

A Seat at the Table (Magulang) depicts the artist’s nanay (mother) and tatay (father) at one end of a table laid with lechon (roast pig), banana leaf and a bird of paradise flower.

A Seat at the Table (Kapatid) is an inverted portrait of Santiago seated next to her sister at a table laid with narcissus daisies and a python snake, a symbol of temptation and sin.

The works also feature marks made by Santiago’s children Maella, 9, Santi Mateo, 8, and Sarita, 5.

Santiago, who claimed the 2020 Sir John Sulman Prize, calls the La Prairie Art Award her most significant career achievement so far.

“It was a bit of a shock because in a lot of ways I feel I’m an emerging artist, I didn't even know a lot of the curators,’’ she said.

“With the Archibald and the Sulman, a lot of artists are nominated to enter, but the La Prairie is not an invitational award.

“It’s awarded to one recipient so for me it makes it more significant. I didn’t put myself forward for this.’’

Marikit Santiago 'A Seat at the Table (Kapatid)' 2022.

Art Gallery of NSW’s contemporary Australian art senior curator Beatrice Gralton said Santiago’s paintings probed the relationship between art and life, career and family, myth and reality.

“Using oil paint and gold leaf alongside humble materials such as cardboard boxes and markers, Marikit produces rich and detailed compositions, layered with cultural and religious symbolism,’’ she said.

“These paintings are a love letter to her family, her culture and Australia.’’

As part of the residency, Santiago will travel to Switzerland in June to attend the Art Basel International Art Fair and go museum and gallery hopping in Italy and Spain with her business analyst husband Shawn Pearl and their children who are “intrinsic” to her work.

It will provide the opportunity to explore art history that inspires her creations.

A welcome $50,000 prize money will go towards the mortgage of the family townhouse.

“I often feel really guilty for pursuing this career because it doesn’t provide a steady income so a financial burden is deferred to my husband,’’ Santiago said.

“It can be difficult. I feel like I’m always validating what I do as a legitimate job.’’

As a child, Santiago aspired to become a doctor and completed a medical science degree at the University of NSW but quickly knew she would not succeed and pursued art.

She is the third recipient of the annual La Prairie award, which was granted to Sydney artist Thea Anamara Perkins in 2023 and Melbourne’s Atong Atem in 2022.