2026 Mosman Youth Art Prize winners

The Mosman Youth Art Prize exhibition is now open at Mosman Art Gallery, following an official exhibition launch held on Friday 27 March, where winners across the junior, senior and tertiary categories were formally announced. The exhibition, which runs until 3 May, highlights the impressive talents of some of Sydney’s most exciting emerging artists.

Nearly 400 artworks were submitted this year across a wide range of mediums, including ceramics, drawing, painting, photography, video, printmaking and sculpture. The diversity of entries reflects the continued growth of the prize as a major creative platform for young artists.

Judging this year’s prize was acclaimed Sri Lankan‑born Sydney artist Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, who praised the imaginative approaches and strong technical skills demonstrated across all age groups. With a prize pool exceeding $10,000, the Mosman Youth Art Prize remains one of New South Wales’ most respected youth art awards, encouraging innovation and confidence in the next generation of creatives.

The winning works – spanning bold portraiture, experimental video, intricate ceramics and more – offer a compelling snapshot of the issues and inspirations shaping young artists today, from identity and culture to environment and social change.

The annual prize continues to serve as an important launchpad for early‑career artists, giving them valuable public exposure and the opportunity to exhibit in a public cultural institution.

Prize‑winning works are now on display at Mosman Art Gallery until 3 May. 

Junior
First prize: Keilin Sharma, Home, ceramic (white stoneware clay, glaze)
Second Prize: Haozhe Gao, Self portrait as a rope thrower, acrylic on watercolour paper (no.40)
Third Prize: Jesse Kosminder, My Northern Lights, 16641 images taken for timelapse (no.162)
Highly Commended: Eden Xu, Guardians of the magical flowerbed, oil pastels, (no.55)

Senior
First prize: Levi Richman, Above Limits, photography, (no.23)
Second Prize: Toby Cochrane, I guess You’re Too Full For Dessert, acrylic on canvas (no.64)
Third Prize: Erin Ravell, Story Pot, Ceramics
Highly Commended: Archie Frewin, Overand Over, photograph (no.125)

Tertiary
First prize: Meera Nirmalendran, Colonial Cargo: The Stolen Harvest, gouache paint on wood (no.151)
Second Prize: Edwina Barton, Hold III, etched aluminium, (no.110)
Third Prize: Emily Lewer, Frogs, acrylic paint, oil sticks on canvas, (no.116)
Highly Commended: Aurelia Cortese, Strzelecki Creek, acrylic on board, (no.52)    

Susan Rothwell Award (s)
Tertiary – Amelia Rand, , Contemplation, acrylic on paper (no.66)
Junior – Amellia Fan, Junior, A Summer Evening of My Neighbourhood, acrylic paint (no.44)

Australian Watercolour Institute
Amelia Rand, Tertiary, Contemplation, acrylic on paper (no.66)

Member awards
Junior – Nicia Zhang, The Golden Girl, oil paint on silt (no.101)
Senior – Alex Ryan, Allkex, bi-carb soda... (no.34)
Tertiary – Natalie Hwang, Every Fibre of Her Being, hand-dyed wool (#N)

Mosman Art Society Encouragement Award
Idelia Coa, Junior, Meringues, acrylics on cotton (no.6)

Installer’s Choice
Elsa Gong, Senior, The Horizon, acrylic on canvas (no.85)