2026 Finalists Revealed for the 25th Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize

Published on 10 August 2026

Images: (left) BJ Kim, do Geese see God? (right) Lynda Draper, JET 

Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf has announced the finalists for the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize, Australia's most prestigious award for small-scale sculpture, now celebrating its 25th Anniversary.

Since the first exhibition was held in 2001, the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize has demonstrated the extraordinary breadth and complexity of contemporary sculpture. No single style, material or approach defines the Prize. Instead, the only constant has been a continuing search for quality, originality and artistic excellence.

Included in the 2026 exhibition are the superb works of 49 finalists selected from 724 local and international entries. Each exhibiting sculptor provides extraordinary insight into the contemporary sculpture scene as a whole. The winning work, selected by this year's judges, will receive the $25,000 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize and join Woollahra Council's public art collection.

Gallery Director, Sep Pourbozorgi said: "The finalists selected by this year's judges come from across Australia and around the world, including the United States and Ireland, and represent both emerging and established artists at pivotal moments in their careers.

"Here, artists reveal the remarkable breadth of contemporary sculptural practice, with works in bronze, paper, glass and ceramics. Assemblage, often incorporating found objects and recycled materials, features prominently alongside 3D-printed and kinetic sculptures. Some works explore history, industry and the expressive potential of materials themselves, while others emerge from failed experiments, successful prototypes and the pursuit of new artistic directions. The result is an exhibition that captures the richness, originality and innovation of contemporary sculpture."

Woollahra Mayor Sarah Dixson said: "Over the past 25 years, the Prize has become Australia's pre-eminent award for small sculpture, and an internationally recognised showcase for creative excellence. As we mark this significant milestone, we are thrilled by the enthusiastic response it continues to receive and excited to welcome visitors to the exhibition of finalists in October to celebrate with us and view the remarkable breadth of talent and innovation on display."

The 2026 finalists will be on display at Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf from 2 October to 29 November 2026, with the winners announced on 1 October 2026.

The total prize pool of $29,000 includes the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize ($25,000), Special Commendation Award ($2,000), Mayor’s Award ($1,000), and the Viewers’ Choice Award ($1,000). 

The Finalists

The 2026 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize finalists are: 

Anita Johnson, Annabel Lahz, Benjamin Jay Shand, BJ Kim, Billie Baker, Bryant Chitsey, Christian Atichian, Christopher Jewitt , Dean Stewart, Fiona J Schoer, Francheska Coenraads, Hamish Bassett, Harriet Schwarzrock, Jacob Davidson, Jesse Wakenshaw, Kat Shapiro Wood, Katarzyna Dudkiewicz, Katherine Castillo Alferez, Katherine Sankey, Kelly Fatseas, Kien Situ , Kieta Jackson, Liss Finney, Liz Bryan, Lois Basham, Lynda Draper, Madeleine Kelly, Mark Booth, Mark and Simi Eliott, Martin John Oldfield, Matthew de Moiser, Melanie Cobham, Monica Rani Rudhar, Nasim Nasr, Olivia Chin, Omi McCurdie, Robyn Campbell , Samantha Mackie, Sassy Park, Satu Bushell, Saxon Reynolds, Silke Raetze, Simon Chalmers, Thomas O’Hara, Tony Manning, Tony Tran, Tricia Singer, Valissa Butterworth, Wanita Lowe.

Finalist Highlights

BJ Kim, do Geese see God?

BJ Kim (Thirroul, NSW) - do Geese see God?
do Geese see God? is inspired by seabirds soaring along the NSW north coast and evokes feelings of freedom, joy and transcendence. Its palindrome title reflects the sculpture's dual orientation while alluding to birds and spirituality.

Lynda Draper, JET

Lynda Draper (Thirroul NSW) - JET
JET draws upon fragmented visual impressions from Lynda Draper's surroundings and her fascination with historical artefacts. Through material experimentation and intuitive form-making, the work evokes a sense of the familiar made strange, feeling simultaneously ancient and imagined. Glass extends this dialogue between material and perception: where clay shapes form, glass shapes light.

Bryant Chitsey, Thunderstorm

Bryant Chitsey (Choctaw, USA) - Thunderstorm
Thunderstorm explores the haybale as a regional icon of the Great Plains and an object of joy and nostalgia from the artist’s Oklahoma childhood. Constructed through the repetition of toothpicks and concentric circles, the haybale becomes both object and viewer, witnessing the heavy rainclouds roll across miles of prairie and reflecting how upbringing shapes our relationship to place.

Melanie Cobham, Unfolded Trees

Melanie Cobham (Fitzroy North, VIC) - Unfolded Trees
Unfolded Trees traces the growth patterns of Scribbly Gum Moth larvae. Inlaid within raw sandstone, bronze moulded from the bark of an Australian Scribbly Gum is unfolded to reveal the hidden life of insects burrowing within. Resembling topographical drawings, their markings propose a new map of the swerving, capricious and erratic nature of growth.

Tricia Singer - Peacock

Tricia Singer (Ciccone, NT) - Peacock
Peacock recalls a joyful family memory of encountering a peacock at Mataranka. Made from wire and rusty metal collected around Iwantja, its colours and forms draw upon local wildflowers on the artist’s Country. Basket-weaving techniques taught by the artist’s mother and senior Tjanpi artist Maringka Burton transformed the flower shapes into a peacock.

From the Judges

Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize judge Emily Sullivan, Assistant Curator of Contemporary International Art, Art Gallery of New South Wales, remarked of the 2026 finalist works:

"It's been a pleasure and a privilege to judge the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize 2026. These works offer small, personal windows into the things that enthrall and affect us - the natural world, people, and the uncanny. That the sculptures vary so much - from assemblages of found and reclaimed objects to meticulously hewn forms - makes our job all the more enjoyable, and difficult!"

The 2026 judging panel also includes Beau Neilson, arts Leader and philanthropist, and Tim Silver, artist and winner of the 2018 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize.

Event Details

What: 2026 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize Exhibition 
Where: Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf, 548 New South Head Road, Double Bay 
When: 2 October to 29 November 2026

Woollahra Super Small Sculpture Prize

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize, young artists are invited to enter the inaugural Woollahra Super Small Sculpture Prize!

Free-to-enter, this new prize celebrates the creativity of primary school-aged children, inviting them to create an original sculpture no larger than 15cm in any dimension. There are two age categories: 5-8 year olds and 9-12 year olds.

Finalists and winners are selected on merit and originality by the Gallery Director and a guest judge.

All finalists will be exhibited online and alongside the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize exhibition from 4 - 29 November 2026.

With a $200 prize pool for each age category and a $100 Viewers' Choice Award, this exhibition is a fun and inspiring opportunity for your child to share their ideas, experiment with materials and be part of Australia's leading sculpture prizes. 

Online entries open Monday 21 September and close Tuesday 13 October 2026.

Public Programs

This spring school holiday, young artists are invited to experiment and create at the Woollahra Super Small Sculpture Workshops at Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf.

Thanks to our Sponsors

The Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize is supported by the following sponsors: 

Gold Sponsor: Wentworth Courier

Silver Sponsors: Crawford’s Casting, D’Leanne Lewis, J. Farren Price, Catalina Rose Bay, Sandersons Rushcutters Bay, Form & Face by Dr Benjamin Norris, Zart Art supplies (in-kind)

This year's winning sculpture will be announced on 1 October 2026. For more information visit: woollahragallery.com.au.