71 finalist works have been announced for this year’s Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards – the NATSIAAs, Australia’s longest running and most prestigious art awards of its kind, presented by MAGNT, the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory and Principal Partner Telstra on Larrakia Country (Darwin).

Selected from 216 entries, all finalist works will be exhibited from 21 June 2025 until 26 January 2026 and are eligible to win one of the following award categories:
Telstra Art Award – $100,000; Telstra General Painting Award – $15,000; Telstra Bark Painting Award – $15,000; Telstra Work on Paper Award – $15,000; Wandjuk Marika 3D Memorial Award (sponsored by Telstra) – $15,000; Telstra Emerging Artist Award – $15,000; Telstra Multimedia Award – $15,000.

38 finalists are from the Northern Territory, 8 from South Australia, 5 from Queensland, 10 from Western Australia, 3 from New South Wales, 1 from the ACT and 6 artists from Victoria. There are no finalists from Tasmania this year. 14 finalists fall under the Emerging Artist category.

The finalists were selected by a panel consisting of Keith Munro, Director, First Nations Art and Cultures at the MCA in Sydney; Karen Mills, a Darwin-based artist and descendant of the Balanggarra people in the East Kimberley; and Kate ten Buuren, a Taungurung artist and curator interested in visual art, film and stories based, at 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art in Sydney.

“The Selection Panel members are proud to have played this important role and we extend our deepest gratitude to all artists who submitted their artworks. It was a privilege to witness and discuss hundreds of masterful works that showcase the diverse and abundant creative practices from artists across the continent.
“We were excited to see artists collaborating with one another, experimenting with new mediums and technologies, and sharing stories of contemporary life and issues. We were blown away by the skill of emerging artists, and artists working on bark and paper. We engaged in rigorous conversation, consideration and care when selecting the works”.

The chosen 71 are:
From the ACT – Jennifer Kemarre Martiniello OAM, Irrwanyere Arrernte Imarnt/Lower Southern Arrernte. Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (Sponsored by Telstra)
From NSW – Gene Kelaher, Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan Pilaarrkiyalu. Telstra General Painting Award
Virginia Keft Muruwari -Muruwari. Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (Sponsored by Telstra), Emerging Artist
Wanita Lowe – Dunghutti/Birripi/Wiradjuri. Telstra General Painting Award, Emerging Artist
From the NT – Adrienne Watson, Kuninjku. Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (Sponsored by Telstra)
Aileen Napaljarri Long, Warlpiri. Telstra General Painting Award, Emerging Artist
Artists of Ampilatwatja: Alana Ngwarraye Holmes, Colleen Ngwarraye Morton, Dakota Ngwarraye Petrick, Denise Ngwarraye Bonney, Edie Kemarre Holmes, Elizabeth Ngwarraye Bonney, Jacinta Pula Morrison, Jessie Ngwarraye Ross, Julieanne Ngwarraye Morton, Kathleen Nanima Rambler, Kindy Kemarre Ross, Latoya Ngwarraye Petrick, Rosie Kemarre Morton, Sevania Kemarre Bonney Alyawarre/Kayetete. Telstra General Painting Award
Barbara Puruntatameri. Tiwi. Telstra Bark Painting Award
Binygurr Wirrpanda, Miwatj. Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (Sponsored by Telstra)
Carbiene McDonald Tjangala. Luritja Telstra General Painting Award
Charmaine Ashley, Wagilag. Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (Sponsored by Telstra), Emerging Artist
Cindy Dixon Mpetyan, Anmatyerre. Telstra General Painting Award, Emerging Artist
Conway Ginger, Pitjantjatjara. Telstra Work on Paper Award
Djakaŋu Yunupiŋu, Miwatj. Telstra General Painting Award
Dorothy Warrngarrknga Ganambarr, Djambarrpuyngu. Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (Sponsored by Telstra)
Doris Bush Nungarrayi. Luritja. Telstra Work on Paper Award
Dulcie Sharpe, Luritja. Telstra Work on Paper Award
Elizabeth Mbitjana, Anmatyerre. Telstra General Painting Award, Emerging Artist
Gary Lee, Larrakia. Telstra Work on Paper Award
Gaypalani Waṉambi, Miwatj. Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (Sponsored by Telstra)
Grace Kemarre Robinya, Western Arrernte, Luritja, Anmatyerre. Telstra General Painting Award
Graham Tipungwuti, Tiwi. Telstra Bark Painting Award
Gutiŋarra Yunupiŋu, Miwatj. Telstra Bark Painting Award
Jeanie Napangardi Lewis, Warlpiri. Telstra General Painting Award
Johnathon World Peace Bush, Tiwi. Telstra Multimedia Award
Kaye Brown, Tiwi. Telstra Bark Painting Award
Kenan Namunjdja, Kuninjku. Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (Sponsored by Telstra)
Lucinta Puruntatameri, Tiwi. Telstra General Painting Award
Lucy Yarawanga, Gurr-goni. Telstra Bark Painting Award
Marrnyula Munuŋgurr, Miwatj. Telstra General Painting Award
Mervyn Rubuntja, Arrernte/Western Arranda. Telstra Work on Paper Award
Ned Kelly Jungurrayi, Kaytetye/Warlpiri. Telstra General Painting Award. Emerging Artist
Obed Namirrkki, Kuninjku. Telstra Bark Painting Award, Emerging Artist
Owen Yalandja, Kuninjku. Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (Sponsored by Telstra)
Pedro Wonaeamirri, Tiwi. Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (Sponsored by Telstra)
Roger Yambeing, Malak Malak/Wangi Wumirri. Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (Sponsored by Telstra)
Sheree Inkamala, Luritja/Pitjantjatjara/Western Arrernte. Telstra Work on Paper Award, Emerging Artist
Sonia Gurrpulan Guyula, Djambarrpuyngu. Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (Sponsored by Telstra), Emerging Artist
Wally Wilfred, Wagilak. Telstra General Painting Award
Wayilkpa Maymuru, Miwatj. Telstra Bark Painting Award
Yalmakany Marawili, Miwatj. Telstra Bark Painting Award
Yinimala Gumana, Miwatji. Telstra Bark Painting Award
From Queensland – Alick Tipoti, Kala Lagaw Ya. Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (Sponsored by Telstra)
Colina Wymarra, Gudang Yadhaykenu/Dauareb. Telstra General Painting Award, Emerging Artist
Elisa Jane Carmichael, Ngugi. Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (Sponsored by Telstra)
Lisa Michl Ko-manggén OAM, Pala Nganduw Kedew. Telstra Work on Paper Award
Naomi Hobson, Southern Kaantju. Telstra Work on Paper Award
From South Australia – Alec Baker and Eric Barney, Yankunytjatjara. Telstra General Painting Award
Derek Jungarrayi Thompson, Pitjantjatjara. Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (Sponsored by Telstra)
George Cooley, Arnhem Land Bor. Telstra General Painting Award, Emerging Artist
Iluwanti Ken, Pitjantjatjara. Telstra General Painting Award
Josina Nyarpingku Pumani, Pitjantjatjara. Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (Sponsored by Telstra), Emerging Artist
Juanella Donovan nee McKenzie, Adnyamathanha/Luritja /Lower Southern Arrernte. Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (Sponsored by Telstra)
Ken Sisters Collaborative – Tjungkara Ken, Yaritji Young, Freda Brady, Maringka Tunkin, Tanya Brady, Sandra Ken, Pitjantjatjara. Telstra General Painting Award
Naomi Kantjuriny, Pitjantjatjara. Telstra General Painting Award
From Victoria – Cassie Leatham, DjaDja Wurrung/Daungwurrung. Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (Sponsored by Telstra)
Jack Anselmi, Yorta Yorta. Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (Sponsored by Telstra)
Jahkarli Felicitas Romanis, Pitta Pitta. Telstra Multimedia Award
Kent Morris, Barkindji. Telstra Work on Paper Award
Nicholas Hovington, Palawa. Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (Sponsored by Telstra)
Norm Yakaduna Stewart, Yorta Yorta (Kwat Kwat, Moira, Wurundjeri). Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (Sponsored by Telstra)
From Western Australia – Allery Sandy, Yindjibarndi. Telstra General Painting Award
Angelina Karadada Boona, Worrora/Wunambal. Telstra Bark Painting Award
Brett Nannup, Noongar. Telstra Work on Paper Award
Daniel Walbidi, Yulparitja/Mangala. Telstra General Painting Award
Darryl Dempster, Noongar. Telstra General Painting Award, Emerging Artist
Jimmy Tjapangarti Tchooga, Warlpiri/Ngarti. Telstra Work on Paper Award
Marlene Anderson, Manyjilyjarra. Telstra General Painting Award
Ned Grant, Pitjantjatjara. Telstra General Painting Award
Wendy Hubert, Yindjibarndi. Telstra General Painting Award
Mildred Mungulu and Barbara Bear Arndie, Worrora/Wunambal, Ngarinyin. Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (Sponsored by Telstra)

After which I may comment:
George Cooley, ‘emerging artist’ from Coober Pedy, has now been selected for his third award final, following the Wynne Prize in Sydney and the Hadleys landscape prize in Tassie. Here he’s up against such established stars as Daniel Walbidi, Ned Grant, Naomi Hobson, Alick Tipoti, Owen Yalandja, Guntingarra Yunupungu and the Ken Sisters. But then he might as easily be surprised by the unknown artists from Victoria (4) or NSW (3) – or the delightfully named Ned Kelly Jungurrayi from Ali Curang, not to mention the Moanjum team of Mildred Mungulu and Barbara Bear Arndie. Talking of teams, none can beat the 14 Artists of Ampilatwatja!

In all, I add up 11 entries from the southern States though none from Tassie. But then there are 8 traditional barks and 13 carvings or 3D works from traditional artists. And a good sprinkling of Tiwi.

Announcement of the winners on August 8th, though the artworks will be on show at MAGNT from 21 June.