Exhibition Opening Spritz 15 February 2pm
Location: Frater, Hammond & McCubbin Galleries

This annual highlight challenges VAS artists to reimagine classic subjects and techniques through a contemporary lens, blending time honoured practices with modern creativity. Experience works that honour the past while embracing the present in this dynamic celebration of artistic evolution. Whether through innovative composition, subject matter or technique, each piece reflects a thoughtful dialogue between tradition and today.
This exhibition is generously sponsored by the George Hicks Foundation with a total prize pool of $7,500.
First Prize: $3000; Second: $1000; Third: $500
First Prize Sculpture: $2000; Second: $700; Third: $300
Highly Commended Awards may also be presented.
2026 VAS George Hicks Foundation Contemporary Exhibition Prize Winners:
First Prize: Fred Toumayan for Enough is Enough
Second Prize: Karen Van Ulzen for The Birch Weeps
Third Prize: Thomas Bladon for Turning Back
Highly Commended: Nick Scholes for So Much Distance amongst Extreme Conditions
Highly Commended: Paul Laspagis for Forest Transfiguration
Highly Commended: Zulu for Fibonacci Connection
First Prize Sculpture: Olivia Jane for You Left the Light on, Sweetie
Second Prize Sculpture: Marija Patterson for Contemplating a New Beginning
Third Prize Sculpture: D'Arcy Rouillard for Extremis
Highly Commended Sculpture: It Hao Pheh for Balloon Blower Machine
Curator's Award: Nathan Thompson for Study of a Selkie Dress
Image: Greyscale 7, Alan Howell, First Prize Winner of the George Hicks Foundation Award 2025
We would like to pay our respects to the traditional owners of the land on which our building stands, their leaders, past, present and emerging.