Rockhampton Museum of Art (RMOA) is proud to announce the invited artists for its prestigious acquisitive painting prize, The Gold Award 2026, a cornerstone event that celebrates the very best of contemporary Australian painting.
Now in its seventh iteration, the biennial Gold Award remains the richest painting prize in Queensland, offering a $50,000 acquisitive award. Named in honour of the late Rockhampton philanthropist Moya Gold, the prize continues her legacy by supporting contemporary Australian artists while enriching Rockhampton Museum of Art's nationally significant collection.
The Gold Award is a joint initiative of Rockhampton Museum of Art, Rockhampton Museum of Art Philanthropy Group, and Rockhampton Regional Council, and will be judged in 2026 by eminent Australian artist Jenny Watson, whose influential conceptual painting practice spans more than four decades.
The exhibition featuring the invited artists will be on display at Rockhampton Museum of Art from 4 July to 6 September 2026, with free public entry. The winner of The Gold Award 2026 will be announced on 10 July 2026.
Invited Artists for The Gold Award 2026
Rockhampton Museum of Art has invited an exceptional group of artists to submit new work for judging:
- Lydia Balbal (Mangala Country, Great Sandy Desert, WA)
- Betty Chimney (Yankunytjatjara, SA)
- Wayilkpa Maymuru (Maŋgalili clan, Yirrkala, NT)
- Karla Marchesi (Brisbane / Berlin)
- David Paulson (Leeds-born, Australia-based)
- Lorna Quinn (Melbourne / London)
- Telly Tu'u (Wellington-born, Sydney-based)
- Tricky Walsh (Melbourne / Virginia, USA)
Each invited artist brings a distinctive voice and perspective, spanning First Nations storytelling traditions, international contemporary practice, and diverse explorations of identity, culture, and the landscape.
Rockhampton Regional Council Councillor Drew Wickerson said the Gold Award continues to elevate Rockhampton's reputation as a leading regional arts destination.
"The Gold Award is a defining cultural event for our region, positioning Rockhampton on the national stage as a champion of contemporary Australian art," Councillor Wickerson said.
"We are proud to welcome such an outstanding group of artists in 2026 and to continue building a collection that reflects the depth, diversity and excellence of Australian painting."
Rockhampton Museum of Art Acting Director Shanna Muston emphasised the strength of the 2026 invited cohort and the significance of the acquisitive prize.
"The Gold Award provides a unique platform for leading and emerging artists to present ambitious new work, while also contributing to the long-term growth of our nationally recognised collection," Ms Muston said.
"The 2026 invited artists represent a remarkable cross-section of contemporary practice and each offers compelling insights into the cultural, social and artistic conversations shaping Australia today."
The last iteration of the prize, held in 2024, was awarded to Cairns/Gimuy-based artist Rosella Namok for her work Old Gals Yarnin' I-III. Rosella has exhibited extensively in Australia and overseas and has been collected by all major state galleries, the National Gallery of Australia and many private collections including The High Court of Australia, Canberra. Acquiring Rosella's work as part of the Gold Award further cements the award's reputation for recognising excellence in Australian painting.
Owned and operated by Rockhampton Regional Council, Rockhampton Museum of Art remains committed to delivering high-quality exhibitions and cultural experiences that connect audiences with contemporary art and ideas.
Exhibition Details
Exhibition Dates: 4 July - 6 September 2026
Winner Announcement: 10 July 2026
Location: Rockhampton Museum of Art - Gallery 1
Entry: Free
2026 Gold Award Judge
Jenny Watson is one of Australia's most significant contemporary artists whose conceptual painting practice spans more than four decades. In 2022, Watson was in the group exhibition Embodied Knowledge: Queensland Contemporary Art at Queensland Art Gallery with a group of 48 new paintings on proofs of the exhibition catalogue from her 2016 survey exhibition Chronicles at Griffith University Art Gallery, Brisbane. (Biography courtesy of Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery)
Previous Gold Award Winners
Established in 2012 the winning artists include:
2012 - Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori
2014 - Imants Tillers
2016 - Jon Cattapan
2018 - Richard Bell
2022 - Wendy Sharpe
2024 - Rosella Namok
Through the Gold Award, Australia's finest practising artists including Ben Quilty, Del Kathryn Barton and Michael Zavros have also been added to what has grown to become a nationally significant collection.
Image Caption: Rosella Namok with Old Gals Yarnin' I-III 2023, acrylic on canvas, 225 x 90cm each. Rockhampton Museum of Art Collection. Winner of the Gold Award 2024. Gift of the Moya Gold Trust through Rockhampton Museum of Art Gift Fund 2024. © The artist and FireWorks Gallery, Brisbane. Photo: Fern Valley Films.
