Discover our best: major art prize winners revealed

The $10,000 Best in Show acquisitive prize has been awarded to Marvene Ash for her work Studio furniture (hare hiding), a sensitive vignette of her art studio in Maleny.
Guest judge, Kerryanne Ferrer, lauded the oil painting for its timeless quality and mastery of form.
Ash has been an artist for over 40 years and has been living on the Sunshine Coast since the mid-1980s.
In her award-winning piece, Ash grapples with art history, the creative imagination and the ordinary reality of an artist’s life and environment.

Image: President of Friends, Caloundra Regional Gallery Fiona Heiner, guest judge Kerryanne Ferrer, Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli, Best in Show Acquisitive Award winner Marvene Ash.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said this year’s annual prize continued to highlight the region’s depth of creative talent. “The Sunshine Coast is home to an exceptional and diverse community of artists, and this prize showcases that talent beautifully,” Mayor Natoli said. “This year we received more than 200 entries, giving our selection committee the difficult task of narrowing the field to the final 40 works now on display.
“Our young artists are also represented through the Local Student Art Prize 2026, demonstrating the creativity and potential of the next generation.
“I encourage the community to visit both exhibitions and experience firsthand the calibre of work being produced across our region.”

Visit Caloundra Regional Gallery

Caloundra Regional Gallery is located at 22 Omrah Avenue, Caloundra.
The gallery is open Tuesday–Friday, 10am–4pm, and Saturday–Sunday, 10am–2pm; closed on public holidays.

2D Excellence and 3D Excellence winners

The 2D Excellence Award was presented to Ketakii Jewson-Brown of Maleny for Tender love, a framed photographic pigment print.
The 3D Excellence Award went to Maroochydore resident Samantha Mays, recognized for Head in the sand, a work made using sterling silver, 18ct gold, found objects (dice) and sand from Maroochydore beach.

The exhibition is open at Caloundra Regional Gallery and online at the gallery website from 27 March to 17 May 2026.

Art lovers can visit in person or explore the finalists on the gallery website and cast their vote in the People’s Choice Award.
One lucky voter will receive a $50 Caloundra Regional Gallery Store voucher, and the People’s Choice Award remains a highly valued honour for participating artists.

Valued sponsors and supporters

The Local Contemporary Art Prize is proudly supported by:

• Friends, Regional Gallery Caloundra, together with Sunshine Coast Council and Caloundra Regional Gallery, sponsoring the $10,000 Best in Show Acquisitive Award
• Friends, Regional Gallery Caloundra, sponsoring the $2,500 2D Excellence Award and $2,500 3D Excellence Award
• Friends, Regional Gallery Caloundra, and Community Bank Caloundra – Bendigo Bank, co-sponsors of the $2,000 People’s Choice Award, to be announced on Sunday, 17 May.