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Homegrown contemporary artists celebrated at ILT Murihiku Art Awards

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Art and Culture
He Waka Tuia
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Contemporary visual artists have taken centre stage at this year’s ILT Murihiku Art Awards, in a celebration of the creative energy of artistic practice in Southland and beyond.

The winners of the third annual ILT Murihiku Art Awards were revealed at Invercargill public arts facility He Waka Tuia, on Friday 2 October. The awards brought together artists working across a broad range of mediums, and recognised the contribution artists made to our cultural landscape.

He Waka Tuia Manager Sarah Brown said 67 works were selected as finalists, across seven categories: the Supreme Award, second and third prizes, the Invercargill Public Art Gallery/Southland Art Society Membership Award, the Beattie McDowell Southland Award (in memory of architect Mick Hesselin), the Innovation Award, Rangatahi Award. The People’s Choice award would be determined by public vote at the end of the exhibition.

“This year’s entries showcased a fantastic range of contemporary art practice, and highlighted once again the tremendous work being created the length and breadth of New Zealand. The exhibition is looking fantastic, and we’re excited for visitors to He Waka Tuia to see it for themselves,” she said.

“Creative expression is a lifeline, not just for artists themselves but for audiences as well. Art connects us to one another, challenges our perspectives, and adds richness to the places we call home. Opportunities like the ILT Murihiku Art Awards give that work a platform, and allow artists to keep creating, so we are incredibly grateful for the generosity of our sponsors – the ILT and Beattie McDowell Architects. Their support of these awards is an investment in the cultural life of our entire community,” she said.

Judges of the ILT Murihiku Art Awards Sarah McClintock (left) and Julia Hutchinson.

This year’s awards were judged by Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History director Sarah McClintock, and Julia Hutchinson, co-director of Hutch Gallery in Dunedin.

McClintock was an experienced curator and museum professional with a background heritage at institutions including Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, the Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui and The Suter Art Gallery Te Aratoi o Whakatū in Nelson.

Hutchinson, meanwhile, opened contemporary art gallery Hutch in central Ōtepoti in 2025. The gallery focused on representing and exhibiting contemporary artists from throughout New Zealand.

Hutchinson said the awards entries demonstrated the talent and diversity of artists from across the motu.

“For me, the strength of these entries shows that contemporary visual arts in Aotearoa is alive and well. There are some incredibly committed and hardworking artists making work, taking risks, and actively seeking opportunities to develop and further their art practice,” she said.

“Awards such as these are incredibly important to the creative sector in Aotearoa. At a time where we are sadly seeing reduced government focus on funding and supporting the arts, initiatives like these feel particularly important. They strengthen local arts communities, create opportunities for artists to connect with new audiences, and reinforce the value of pursuing a career in the arts.”

McClintock said she was pleased to see such a diverse use of materials by the artists – from ceramics to acrylic, wood, textiles, jewellery, drawing, and video, the finalists represented an exciting range of skills and approaches.

Winner of the Supreme Award at the ILT Murihiku Art Awards 2026: 34 years of Age, by artist Laura Allen.

“Judging art awards are tricky – you are never really comparing art works to each other, only to what the artist is trying to achieve with their work. What I look for is originality. Artworks that make me linger, look again, intrigue me, and force me to ask questions of the work, myself, and our world,” she said.

“Entering awards is an incredibly brave thing for artists to do – they are making themselves and their work vulnerable to judgement, and risking rejection. All of the artists who submitted work should be incredibly proud. That they made our job so difficult is a testament to the skills and creativity of the artists of Aotearoa.”

The exhibition would run at He Waka Tuia until Sunday 15 November.

ILT Murihiku Art Awards 2026 - Winners

Supreme Award: $8,000

Winner: 34 years of Age, porcelain – Laura Allen

2nd Prize: $4,000

Winner: Knotgaarden, Oil and acrylic paint, embroidery on linen – Paul McLachlan

3rd Prize: $2,000

Winner: Andrew 1/10, Acrylic on canvas – Elizabeth Manson

IPAG or SAS Membership Award: $2,000

Winner: Sēam, Acrylic and oil on canvas – Paul McLachlan

Beattie McDowell Southland Award: $2,000

Winner: The Green Heart, Oil and acrylic on vintage frame – Mel McKenzie

Innovation Award: $1,000

Winner: Jaanipäiv, Photography (parish cotton) – Laire Purik

Rangatahi Award: $500

Winner: Time to Waste?, Mixed media – Nina Thoroughgood

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