Louise Skačej was named on Wednesday as the artist selected to create a public artwork honouring the late Stasia Dabrowski, Canberra’s Soup Kitchen Lady.

From 1982 Dabrowski ran a mobile soup kitchen from a corner of Garema Place, providing hot meals, bread, drinks and solace to those in need every Friday night.

Arts Minister Michael Pettersson said the commission was part of an ongoing initiative to celebrate the legacy of significant Canberra women through the public art collection.

Skačej’s is known for her diorama of the Battle of Kapyong, created with partner and studio manager Dean Colls and featured at the Australian War Memorial.

She will now collaborate with Colls and studio assistants, Isabeau Colls and Mads Hillam, under the mentorship of legendary Australian sculptor, Peter Corlett.

The sculpture will be installed in Garema Place in early 2026, close to the location of the original soup kitchen.