Art lovers of all ages are invited to come along to the Gippsland Art Gallery this Friday for the launch of its spring season of new exhibitions.
As part of the launch, Wellington Shire mayor Cindy Madeley will announce the 2026 winners of the John Leslie Art Prize and the Wellington Youth Art Prize.
The John Leslie Art Prize is a $30,000 national acquisitive prize for landscape painting.
This year sees 49 finalists selected for exhibition from a total field of 577 entries from all states of Australia. This year’s guest judge is Louise Tegart, director of the Art Gallery of Ballarat, who has helped gallery staff select an overall winner of the $30,000 first prize, plus a secondary prize of $1000 for ‘Best Gippsland Work’.
The John Leslie Art Prize runs every second year and is named after the gallery’s founder and patron, John Leslie OBE (1919-2016). Today, the continuation of the prize is made possible through the generous ongoing support of the Gippsland Art Gallery Foundation.
The Wellington Youth Art Prize is open to all young artists aged 12-to-25 who live, study or work in Wellington Shire. The theme for the 2026 competition is ‘Escape from Reality’, and the exhibition of 49 entrants provides a fascinating insight into the future of art in Gippsland.
Entrants will compete in three age categories, with cash prizes available in each category.
The Wellington Youth Art Prize is sponsored by Amplify, The Middle of Everywhere, the Friends of the Gallery and Wellington Shire Youth Council.
This Friday also sees the opening of Annemieke Mein’s latest exhibition, which includes three new, never-before-seen artworks, alongside several returning favourites, and an updated Borun & Tuk Gallery, which presents the work of First Nations artists living and
working on Gunaikurnai country.
Two other new exhibitions present a wide range of artworks from the Gippsland Art Gallery’s permanent collection: Canvas & Clay and First Impressions.
Canvas & Clay is a playful new exhibition that explores the contrasts and parallels between paintings and ceramics, while First Impressions features over three centuries of old master printmaking from the 1550s to the 1860s.
The exhibition showcases prints (engravings and etchings) by old masters from Italy, Britain, France, Germany and The Netherlands, such as Raphael, Rembrandt, Piranesi and Turner.
Whether you’re a regular visitor or you have never been to the gallery before, the season launches are a wonderful opportunity to check out the new exhibitions, catch up with friends over the refreshments and enjoy the music provided by Sale’s Simply Classical string quartet.
Friday’s launch will begin 6pm, and entry is free. For catering purposes, RSVP by phoning 5142 3500 or email POSevents@wellington.vic.gov.au
