Public Galleries Association of Victoria (PGAV)

07/08/2026

❤️🖤💛 Congratulations to Dr Ryan Presley, Marri Ngarr artist, on receiving the 2026 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award (Natsiaa) for his painting “Our lifestyle of tranquillity undisturbed”.

The judging panel – Kamilaroi artist Warraba Weatherall, Kokatha and Nukunu artist Yhonnie Scarce, and Trawlwoolway artist Julie Gough – described Presley’s work as “a standout”, praising his incorporation of “diverse cultural, cross cultural and art history references”.

We extend our congratulations to the recipients of the other awards categories:

Jenna Mayilema Lee, Gulumerridjin (Larrakia), Wardaman and KarraJarri woman based in Naarm/Melbourne, won the work on paper category for “Taking back taken”, six danala (dillybags) crafted from British Museum paper maps collected over five years.

Barayuwa Munuŋgurr, Miwatj/Djapu artist won the bark painting award for “The hidden reef at Yarrinya”, an earth pigment piece on stringybark. Munuŋgurr said the work depicts his mother’s Munyuku clan ancestors breaking kinship rules by killing their brother whale, Mirinyuŋu, and throwing their stone knives into the sea out of shame, forming the reef Garapana.

Vanessa Inkamala, Western Aranda artist, won the general painting award for “Arrkurla Nukala/Lyaarta Ntema (“before” and “after/today”)”. Painted in gouache and house paint on two recycled metal road signs, the artwork explores how her Tjoritja (West MacDonnell Ranges) homeland has changed in her lifetime.

Napuwarri Marawili, who lives in Yilpara in the Northern Territory, received the Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D award for “Djambatj – Deadly hunter”.

Colin Heenan-Puruntatameri, who lives in Milikapiti in the Northern Territory received the multimedia award for “Ngirramini Ngini Amparruwu (The story of the widow)”.

Guruwuy Murrinyina, who lives in Gäṉgan in the Northern Territory, received the emerging artist award for “Prismatic arc”.

The Natsiaa exhibition is on at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory until 24 January 2027.

Marri Ngarr artist takes home Australia’s most prestigious First Nations art prize for Our lifestyle of tranquillity undisturbed – a ‘dreamscape’ that challenges colonial modes of representation

05/08/2026

🏺 Opportunity for ceramic artists!

Applications are now open for The Martin Ceramics Fellowship at JamFactory.

This fellowship offers a mid-career Australian ceramic artist the opportunity to undertake an intensive six-week residency at JamFactory in Adelaide during May–June 2027.

✨ Valued at more than $10,000, the fellowship includes travel, accommodation, a materials allowance, kiln firing allocation and up to eight hours per week with a qualified studio assistant.

Made possible through the generosity of Richard Martin and The Friends of South Australian Arts, this is an exceptional opportunity to develop your practice in one of Australia's leading ceramics studios.

📅 Applications close 21 September.

Find out more and apply: https://www.jamfactory.com.au/the-martin-ceramics-fellowship

05/08/2026

Bendigo Art Gallery has launched a new podcast series! The first episode of 'The Gallery Talk' is now live and includes a conversation between Lauren Ellis and Melbourne-based New Zealand artist Ronnie van Hout.

What happens when an artist turns himself into the artwork?

The first episode of The Gallery Talk is now live.

Join Lauren Ellis in conversation with Melbourne-based New Zealand artist Ronnie van Hout as they explore a career shaped by humour, self-reflection and the uncanny.

From works held in the Bendigo Art Gallery collection to large-scale public sculptures, Ronnie shares why he continues to return to himself as both subject and source material. Together, they unpack identity, memory, self-portraiture and the surprising role humour plays in helping us make sense of the world.

The episode also delves into the story behind 'Quasi', the giant hand-and-face sculpture currently standing on View Street Bendigo, and how public artworks can spark fascination, curiosity and strong reactions.

Listen now: https://bit.ly/TheGalleryTalk

Cover photo: Leon Schoots
Music: Jazz Drums - Aktasok

05/08/2026

Opportunity to exhibit with Incinerator Gallery in 2027! 👇

Applications are now open to exhibit with Incinerator Gallery in 2027!

We invite artists, curators, and community groups to propose an exhibition and display their works in one of our gallery spaces.

Visit our website to learn more about the spaces and to apply: https://incineratorgallery.com.au/call-for-proposals-awards/
Applications close Saturday 5 September.

Image credit: Open Call Out recipients Leo Bagus Purnomo, Angus Scott and Norton Fredericks, 2026. Photo by Thomas McCammon.

05/08/2026

📸✨ Join TarraWarra Museum of Art this Saturday for a special afternoon with one of Australia's most celebrated artist-storytellers, William Yang.

As part of the exhibition 'Inside the Mirage', Yang will present a rare keynote lecture and performance slideshow, reflecting on five decades of artistic practice exploring identity, community, memory, culture and belonging. Through photography, performance and personal storytelling, he'll share insights into the work that has made him one of Australia's most important documentary artists.

Becoming Myself: A keynote lecture by William Yang
🗓️ Saturday 15 August
🕑 2–4pm
🚌 A return bus service will operate from Federation Square.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to hear from an artist whose work has shaped Australia's cultural landscape.

Find out more and book your place: https://www.twma.com.au/events/becoming-myself-a-keynote-lecture-by-william-yang/



Image:
William Yang
William in the Cane Fields (from the series My Uncle's Murder) 2008
inkjet print on Innova Softex paper
© copyright and courtesy of the artist, Art Atrium, Australia and Michael Reid Gallery, Berlin

05/08/2026

🛣️✨ Art lovers, your next regional Victorian adventure awaits. Two major international exhibitions are currently on show at Victoria's public galleries, offering the perfect reason to explore our regions while experiencing extraordinary art.

✨ At Shepparton Art Museum, 'Facing Modernity: Degas to Picasso' (until 20 September) presents 37 remarkable paintings and sculptures from Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, shown in Australia for the first time. Journey through Impressionism, Cubism, Surrealism and more, with works by celebrated artists including Degas, Cézanne, Matisse, Dalí and Picasso.

🌿 At Geelong Gallery, 'Discovering the Impressionists: Paul Durand-Ruel, Art Dealer Among the Artists' (until 11 October) brings together more than 70 remarkable works from private French collections, celebrating the visionary art dealer who championed Monet, Renoir, Pissarro and the Impressionists when few others would.

Whether you're planning a weekend escape or a day trip, these landmark exhibitions are well worth adding to your itinerary. Be sure to check each gallery's website for tickets, talks, tours and public programs to make the most of your visit. 🚗🖼️

🔗 Plan your visit:
📍 Facing Modernity: Degas to Picasso – Shepparton Art Museum
https://sheppartonartmuseum.com.au/whats-on/now-showing/facing-modernity-from-degas-to-picasso/

📍 Discovering the Impressionists – Geelong Gallery
https://www.geelonggallery.org.au/whats-on/exhibitions/discovering-the-impressionists

Images:
1. Artwork: Pablo Picasso, Femme à la résille (Woman in a hairnet), 1938, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of Julian and Josie Robertson through the Auckland Art Gallery Foundation, 2023. © Succession Picasso/Copyright Agency, 2026.
2. Installation view, 'Facing Modernity Degas to Picasso', Shepparton Art Museum, 2026.
3. Artwork: Claude Monet, Peonies (Pivoines),1887, oil on canvas, private collection.
4. Installation view, ‘Discovering the Impressionists’, Geelong Gallery, 2026. Photographer Hails and Shine.

04/08/2026

Congratulation to all finalists in Gippsland Art Gallery $30,000 John Leslie Art Prize for landscape painting! 👇

See the work on show from 5 September - 22 November 2026.

2026 John Leslie Art Prize | FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

Gippsland Art Gallery is delighted to announce this year's finalists for the $30,000 John Leslie Art Prize for landscape painting:

Min-Woo Bang, Lydia Ben-Natan, Natasha Bieniek, Michaye Boulter, Dean Bowen, William Breen, Eleanor Butt, Chloe Caday, Amelia Carroll, Linden Dean, Lesley Duxbury, Jeremy Elkington, Robert Gear, Janet Green, Stephen Haley, Katherine Hattam, Lucy Hersey, Clare Jaque Vasquez, Sue Jarvis, Helen Kennedy, Chris Langlois, Ben Liney, Sue Lovegrove, Genevieve Kemarr Loy, Jarrad Martyn, Nicola Moss, Debbie Mackenzie, Saffron Newey, Veronica O'Hehir, Felicity O'Connor, Sophie Perez, Matthew Quick, Steven Rendall, Tracy Roberts, Vin Ryan, Kate Shaw, Todd Simpson, Kieran Stopp, Wade Taylor, Sarah Tomasetti, Mary Tonkin, Michael Vale, Brooke van Ruiswyk, Nat Ward, Peter Watts, Naomi White, Greg Wood, Heidi Yardley, and Richard Young.

Congratulations to all finalists!

A total of 577 entries were received for the coveted national prize from all states of Australia. Artists had the option to enter up to two paintings each. In 2026, a total of 49 paintings have been shortlisted.

Each of the finalists will be vying for the $30,000 acquisitive first prize to be announced at Gippsland Art Gallery's Spring Season Launch on Friday 4 September at 6.00pm by Mayor, Wellington Shire Council, Cr Cindy Madeley. A second, non-acquisitive prize of $1,000 will also be awarded to the Best Gippsland Work.

The shortlist of finalists was selected by:

Louise Tegart, Director, Art Gallery of Ballarat
Simon Gregg, Director, Gippsland Art Gallery
Dr Louisa Waters, Curator, Gippsland Art Gallery

For additional details and to view the artworks, please visit our website: https://www.gippslandartgallery.com/exhibitions/2026-john-leslie-art-prize

On exhibition 5 September – 22 November 2026 | Free Entry

Katherine HATTAM ‘It’s a Strange Country’, 2026
Mixed media on linen, 125 x 155 cm. Courtesy the artist

04/08/2026

See AFTER IMAGE at Whitehorse Art Gallery - showing until 5 September!

Creative Whitehorse

03/08/2026

🎉 Big news for Victoria’s public galleries!

PGAV has been awarded a three-year grant from The Ian Potter Foundation, securing our future and ensuring continued support for 75 public galleries across metropolitan and regional Victoria.

This exceptional funding recognises PGAV’s unique role as the peak body for the sector—delivering professional development, advocacy, benchmarking data and collaborative initiatives that keep galleries thriving, especially in regional and outer-metro communities.

We’re deeply grateful to The Ian Potter Foundation for this vote of confidence in our work and in the vital contribution public galleries make to communities across the state.

Here’s to a stronger, more sustainable gallery network for all Victorians. 💙🖼️



Image: Staff from public galleries across Victoria taking part in the PGAV and NGV Condition Reporting Workshop held in 2024.

03/08/2026

Art Gallery of Swan Hill has announced the winners of the 2026 Print & Drawing Acquisitive Awards. PGAV extends congratulations to Raquel Ormella and Bridget Hillebrand!