The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award (NATSIAA) is Australia’s longest running art award of its kind, celebrating the diversity and cultural practice of First Peoples. Now in its 42nd year, this career-changing award, showcases and celebrates the ‘continuation of cultures, response to current affairs and unerring connections to Country.’
Awarded the 2025 NATSIAA Telstra Art Award is Gaypalani Waṉambi, with her etched metal work, Burwu, blossom. With the 2025 NATSIAA judging panel, consisting of Stephen Gilchrist, Gail Mabo and Brian Martin, elaborating in their Judges’ Comment:
“Gaypalani Waṉambi is the winner of the 2025 Telstra Art Award valued at $100,000 for her etched steel and aerosol work Burwu, blossom. This is an exceptional work that visually and materially explores different relationships to and understandings of Country. Presenting two worlds with two sides, the epic Ancestral journeys of Wuyal are delicately engraved onto the silvery surfaces of discarded road signs. Each time the viewer moves, the work responds accordingly, revealing and concealing the undulations and intangible lifeforces of Country. Each jewel-like panel shimmers with exquisitely rendered designs that are deeply anchored to Yolŋu philosophies. Despite its scale and its composite parts, there is a visual cohesion to the work that has been ambitiously, intentionally and expertly assembled.”
Below are the individual category winners valued at $15,000 each.
Telstra General Painting Award
Iluwanti Ken Pitjantjatjara with Walawuru Tjurkpa (Eagle story) 2025, synthetic polymer paint and ink on linen.
Telstra Bark Painting Award
Lucy Yarawanga with Bawáliba & Ngalyod 2024, earth pigments and PVA fixative on stringybark (Eucalyptus tetrodonta) stringybark.
Telstra Work on Paper Award
Naomi Hobson with Present & Beyond 2024, pigment print on cotton rag paper.
Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (sponsored by Telstra)
Owen Yalandja with Ngalkodjek Yawkyawk 2025, bridal tree (Xanthostemon paradoxus), kurrajong (Brachychiton diversifolius) and bamboo with ochre and PVA fixative.
Telstra Multimedia Award
Jahkarli Felicitas Romanis with Pitta Pitta (Extracted) and Pitta Pitta (Google’s Gaze) 2025, digital print on polyester film, aluminium light boxes.
Telstra Emerging Artist Award
Sonia Gurrpulan Guyula Djambarrpuyngu with Mat 2025, pandanus and bush dye.
Adam Worrall, Director of MAGNT says, “In addition to celebrating Gaypalani’s exceptional achievement, I would like to extend my congratulations to the other category winners and to all 71 finalists who entered their works and shared their stories. In 2025, we proudly highlight the significant participation of female artists, with 42 of this year’s artworks created by women. The artworks shared through Telstra NATSIAA provide inspiration that captivates audiences both near and afar and showcases the tremendous diversity and depth of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artistic and cultural expression found across Australia.”
2025 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT)
(Darwin/Larrakia Country, NT)
Until 26 January
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