Kellogg College announces the 2026 Monika Tesarova Award recipient

Kellogg College is pleased to announce the recipient of this year’s Monika Tesarova Award, which supports students in pursuing academic or creative opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach due to financial constraints.

This year’s award has been granted to Sofia Yao (MFA, 2025), whose work in sculptural painting demonstrates both technical ambition and a strong commitment to material experimentation. The award will play an important role in enabling Sofia to further develop her practice at a pivotal stage in her studies.

Sofia’s work centres on wax as a primary medium, a material that requires both significant investment and careful technical handling. With the rising cost of materials such as beeswax, pigments and additives, sustaining the scale and level of experimentation required has become increasingly challenging. The funding will allow Sofia to acquire essential materials and specialised equipment, including heat tools and temperature control devices, supporting both the safety and precision of her process.

A key outcome of the award will be the production of a large-scale sculptural work for her degree show. This will enable Sofia to fully realise the spatial and conceptual scope of her practice, while exploring more complex techniques of layering and embedding that are central to her artistic approach.

Reflecting on the award, Sofia said:

“I would also like to express my sincere thanks to the college for its continued support of my development as an artist. The guidance, encouragement, and opportunities I have received throughout my studies have been invaluable in shaping both my practice and my confidence. Being part of this community has allowed me to take creative risks, refine my ideas, and grow within a supportive environment. I am deeply appreciative of the college’s commitment to nurturing emerging artists, and I would be honoured to receive this award as part of that ongoing support.”

The Monika Tesarova Award continues to recognise and support the diverse talents within the Kellogg community, helping students to pursue ambitious projects and develop their work to its fullest potential.