Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award

Editorial Review

The works from one of Australia's most important and highly valued Indigenous art awards are now on show.

Image: Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award

Editorial Review

15 August-26 October 2008
Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

The 25th year of the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award is celebrated in 2008 at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. Showcasing and acknowledging the best in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, the main prize is valued at $40,000 with four additional prizes of $4000. Entries are divided into four categories: general painting, bark painting, works on paper and 3D works.

Last year's major prize winner Angelina George, a contemporary artist who grew up in Arnhem Land, has entered a landscape entitled Far Away Places after taking out last year's competition with Near Ruined City. Works from the non-acquisitive award are notoriously high in demand with two-thirds of the finalists selling their entries last year at a tidy profit.

All adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists are welcome to enter, though this year's competition is now closed. The award exhibition highlights the great diversity of Indigenous expression and is one of the most important events in the Indigenous arts calendar.

The 25th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award exhibition is on show at the Art Gallery of the Northern Territory until October 26.

Ryan Lungu