The Wyndham Art Prize proudly champions inclusivity and welcomes works in a variety of artforms including painting, sculpture, photography, video, works on paper and digital media.
Held at the newly refurbished Wyndham Art Gallery, the 2026 exhibition showcases the winning and shortlisted works in a dynamic, high-profile public space.
This year, the gallery celebrates 80 outstanding artists from across Australia, including 10 local talents who have made the Wyndham community proud. With over 700 entries, the highest number yet the gallery curators were blown away by the creativity, skill, and vision shown by artists nationwide.
The judging panel for the 2026 Wyndham Art Prize includes acclaimed artist and previous WAP winner Camille Hannah, Head Curator at Heide Museum of Modern Art Kendrah Morgan, and Lardil Curator & Writer Maya Hodge.
Prizes awarded:
- The $15,000 First Prize was awarded to Gail Harradine for her photographic print ‘Djurite rocks, climbing and Jadawadjali.’
- The $10,000 Second Prize was awarded to Safa El Samad for her intricate embroidery work 'Textiles in Gaza.’
- The $8000 Third Prize was awarded to Penelope Davis for her cameraless photograph ‘Afterimage: pear/grapes.’
- And local Wyndham artist FOOT won the $5,000 LEAP Prize (Local Emerging Art Prize) for their photograph ‘Assigned Liminal At Birth.’ Each year, the LEAP winning artwork becomes part of Wyndham City's Visual Art Collection.
The finalists of the 2026 Art Prize were:
George Alamidis, Matthew Asling, Bobby Bowers, Daniel Butterworth, Kevin Chin, Jasmine Miikaka Craciun, Ellen Dahl, Avni Dauti & Rebecca Dauti, Penelope Davis, Josh Deane, Chelle Destefano, Andrea Draper AKA I Dream In RGB, Mark Dustin, Safa El Samad, Diego Faivre, Carly Fischer, FOOT, Natasha France, Genevieve Ginty, Tim Gregory, Louise Gresswell, Amala Groom, Brad Gunn, Robert Hague, Jody Haines, Stephen Haley, Gail Harradine, Lee Harrop, Orson Heidrich, Petrina Hicks, MeiMei Hodgkinson, Franky Howell, Karenne Ann & Heather Horrocks, Marcia Collette Hrchan, Linda Judge, Gina Kalabishis, Duain Kelaart, Soyoun Kim, Shivanjani Lal, Amalia Lindo, Linda Loh, Arrayah Loynd, Jarryd Lynagh, Rachel Mackay, Donna Marcus, Jarrad Martyn, Dennis McCart, Aylsa McHugh, E McIntosh, Sharon McKenzie, Jonathan Méndez Baute, Nunzio Miano, Julie Millowick, Chris Morgan, Kent Morris, Lisa Murray, Jessica Murtagh, Britt Neech, Catherine O’Donnell, Marcie O’Neill, Amanda Page, Raihan, Christina May Carey & Aaron Christopher Rees, Anna Louise Richardson, Jenny Rütsch, Lee Salomone, Kate Shaw, Damien Shen, Todd Simpson, Nicole Smede, Paul Snell, Noah Spivak, Meagan Streader, Autumn Tansey, Michael Vale, Carmel Wallace, Moreen Wellington Lyons, Dianna Wells, Amanda Western, Belinda Yee.
Visit the gallery to vote for the People’s Choice Award, which will be announced at the next exhibition opening on 11 April 2026. The recipient will be awarded $2,500.
Image: First Prize Winner, 2026. Gail Harradine, ‘Djurite rocks, climbing and Jadawadjali,’ 2020, Photographic print edition 1 on photographic paper, 908mm x 1320mm x 25mm. Image courtesy of the artist
Getting to the gallery
Wyndham Art Gallery is 33km from the Melbourne CBD and 43km from Geelong’s CBD.
By Train
Wyndham Art Gallery is a 10 min walk from Werribee Train Station. Currently the V-line is no longer going through Werribee. The closest V-line station is Wyndham Vale, which is a 12 min drive away.
By Car
Wyndham Art Gallery is situated inside the Wyndham Cultural Centre at 177 Watton Street, Werribee. Parking is available on street , a 3hr lot next door to the Wyndham Cultural Centre and all-day parking at the end of the street
Enquires: wyndhamartprize@wyndham.vic.gov.au
Image: 2023 Wyndham Art Prize winner Arrayah Loynd, Dissociated #1 (diptych) (2023), Archival pigment print on cotton rag. Image courtesy of the artist.