Wyndham City has announced the winners of the 2026 Wyndham Art Prize, with photographer Gail Harradine taking out the top honour at the Opening and Awards Ceremony held on Saturday 31 January.
Harradine received the $15,000 first prize for her photographic print Djurite rocks, climbing and Jadawadjali, a work that stood out among a large and varied field of entries drawn from across Australia. The judging panel awarded the $10,000 second prize to Safa El Samad for Textiles in Gaza, an intricate embroidery work described by judges as emotionally powerful. The $8,000 third prize went to Penelope Davis for her cameraless photograph Afterimage: pear/grapes.
Local artist FOOT was recognised with the $5,000 LEAP Prize, the Local Emerging Art Prize, for the photograph Assigned Liminal At Birth. As with previous years, the LEAP-winning work will become part of Wyndham City’s Visual Art Collection.
Wyndham City Mayor Cr Josh Gilligan said the annual exhibition continues to draw strong interest from artists nationwide while providing a platform for local talent. “Wyndham Art Gallery’s premier exhibition the annual contemporary Wyndham Art Prize 2026 attracts entries from some of the best artists across Australia and offers a chance for local and emerging artists to exhibit alongside them,” he said. “It is wonderful to have so many fabulous artworks on display. Exhibitions such as this encourage creativity and artistic expression and strengthen community.”
This year’s prize attracted more than 700 submissions. From those, Wyndham Art Gallery curators selected 80 finalists, including ten local artists. Cr Gilligan said the exhibition reflects the breadth of contemporary practice on show. “We have paintings, ceramics, photography, sculptures, video, prints, drawings and many other wonderful creations on display,” he said.
The judging panel comprised Lardil writer and curator Maya Hodge, past Wyndham Art Prize winner and internationally regarded artist Camille Hannah, and Kendrah Morgan, Head Curator at Heide Museum of Modern Art. They selected the winners from the 80 shortlisted works.
The exhibition remains open to the public until 22 March 2026, with entry free. Visitors are invited to vote in person for the People’s Choice Award, valued at $2,500, by using the ballot box at the gallery. The winner will be announced at the gallery’s next exhibition opening on Saturday 11 April.
The Wyndham Art Gallery is open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 3pm on weekends, excluding public holidays.
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