Broken Hill City Art Gallery is delighted to announce the 50 finalists selected for the 2026 Pro Hart Outback Art Prize, chosen from 319 entries submitted by artists from across Australia.
Recognised as one of Australia's leading regional acquisitive art prizes, the Pro Hart Outback Art Prize continues to attract an exceptional calibre of artists, celebrating contemporary interpretations of the Australian outback while honouring the legacy of one of Australia's most iconic artists, Pro Hart.
Broken Hill is proudly represented among this year's finalists by Clark Barrett, Greg Wellington, Dirk Romeyn, Jarrod Prince, Jim Paterson and Karen Scifleet.
Gallery & Museum Manager Kathy Graham said the response to this year's prize had been outstanding.
"The quality of work submitted this year was exceptional, making the selection process incredibly competitive. Because the selection committee reviews each artwork anonymously, considering only the artwork and artist statement, the inclusion of six Broken Hill artists among this year's finalists is particularly rewarding and speaks to the strength of our local arts community."
The finalists will compete for a $23,000 prize pool, including the $20,000 acquisitive First Prize, $2,000 Second Prize and the $1,000 People's Choice Award. The prize pool is made possible through the generous support of the Hart family, who contribute $10,000 each year in honour of Pro Hart's enduring legacy, with the remaining prize funding provided through artist entry fees. The winning artwork will become part of the Broken Hill City Art Gallery's nationally recognised permanent collection.
The exhibition showcases an exciting diversity of contemporary practice. Visitors can expect everything from traditional oil and acrylic paintings through to contemporary textile works, ceramics, sculpture, photography and innovative mixed media pieces, offering fresh and diverse interpretations of the Australian outback.
The 50 finalist works will now be judged by two highly respected figures in the Australian visual arts sector, Peter Sharp and Megan Monte, who will determine the recipients of this year's First Prize and Second Prize.
Peter Sharp is Senior Lecturer (Drawing Lead) at the UNSW School of Art & Design and an acclaimed exhibiting artist whose practice spans painting, drawing, sculpture and printmaking. His work is represented in major public collections including the National Gallery of Australia and the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and he has been selected for prestigious awards including the Wynne, Sulman and Dobell Prizes.
Joining him is Megan Monte, Gallery Director of Wagga Wagga Art Gallery. A highly respected curator and arts leader, Monte has previously led Ngununggula Regional Gallery and co-founded Cement Fondu Contemporary Arts Space. Her extensive experience across regional galleries and contemporary arts organisations brings significant curatorial expertise to this year's judging panel.
The 2026 exhibition builds on the success of last year's Pro Hart Outback Art Prize, which saw Broken Hill artist Krystle Evans awarded the $20,000 acquisitive prize for Not so wild west, while Chris Byrnes received Second Prize. Returning to the finalist exhibition this year is Amanda Western, winner of the 2025 People's Choice Award, demonstrating the ongoing strength of artists who continue to engage with the prize.
The 2026 Pro Hart Outback Art Prize will officially open on Friday 31 July at 6.00 pm with a free public opening event and awards presentation at Broken Hill City Art Gallery. Everyone is warmly invited to attend as this year's prize winners are announced and the finalist exhibition is officially unveiled. The exhibition will remain on display until 25 October 2026, showcasing 50 outstanding contemporary artworks from artists across Australia.
"Each year's exhibition demonstrates the many different ways artists interpret the Australian outback," Ms Graham said.
"It's always exciting to see the diversity of work that comes through our doors. We look forward to welcoming artists and visitors from across Australia to Broken Hill to celebrate another fantastic exhibition."
