Women’s Art Prize 2026 recipients announced - Randwick City Council

More than 170 entrants competed across six categories in Randwick City Council's 21st Women's Day Art Prize, with this year's winners announced on Saturday 7 March 2026.

The awards, which are held in honour of International Women's Day, featured a new category this year celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists who live in Randwick City or have ancestral ties to Country.

Receiving first place in the Open category was Gail Reingold's acrylic painting, Morning on Musgrave, a view of Centennial Park that reflects the meditative, calming and mindful state one experiences when immersed in nature.

Gail said her practice "tries to bring to light the importance of maintaining natural spaces like Centennial Park for the wellbeing of all creatures, including humans".

Cosima Clements Lee took out the inaugural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander category for her mixed media work, Intergenerational Echoes, which explores her journey of uncovering her Aboriginal lineage and reconnecting to Country.

Cosima's piece was one of 177 artworks - including paintings, photographs, ceramics, weaving and digital art - that were exhibited at Saturday's awards ceremony at Randwick Town Hall.

Randwick Deputy Mayor, Councillor Clare Willington, who presented the awards, said: "Randwick Council's Women's Art Prize highlights the important contribution local women and girls make to our cultural landscape and provides a platform for them to express their challenges, personal stories or shared journey toward a more just and equal world."

"The artworks this year are inspiring. Congratulations to all of this year's winners."

The highly competitive Local category received 132 entries. Open to women 18 years and over who live, study or work in the Randwick LGA, the prize was awarded to Luanne Mitchelmore for her colour and pastel pencil piece, Corner Block Culburra Beach.

The Councillor's Choice Award, selected by women councillors of Randwick City, was presented to Yoshi Hsu for her digital piece, Food Tour - Asian Edition. The work is a celebration of multicultural Randwick and a nod of appreciation to mothers and the stories that they evoke through food creation.

The Youth category, for young women and girls aged 12 to 17 years living in Randwick LGA, was awarded to Penelope Spies White for her striking charcoal portrait, Boundless. It portrays a young girl poised at a vast, silent horizon, her expression a cryptic blend of longing, wisdom, and untapped potential.

After a flurry of voting at the event on Saturday, the People's Choice award was presented to another youth entrant, Sofia Escobar, for her portrait of her brother titled, Hope. The painting is a tribute to her brother's perseverance after a broken leg interrupted his running career.

An exhibition of the top 50 artworks selected by the judges will be displayed at Lionel Bowen Library from Thursday 12 March to Wednesday 18 March 2026.

A complete list of winners and runners up is contained over the page. High resolution photos of the recipients and artworks are available on request.

Media enquiries

Rita Mu - 0429 347 999 or [email protected]
Joshua Hay - 0402 351 459 or [email protected]

2026 Women's Art Prize Winners

Open
For women and girls with a connection to the Randwick LGA

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
In celebration of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women artists and their cultural storytelling

Local
Open to women aged 18+ years and over who live, work, or study in the Randwick LGA

Youth
Showcasing young women and girls aged 12-17 years who live in the Randwick LGA

Councillor's Choice Award
Selected by women Councillors of Randwick City

People's Choice
Award As selected by exhibition participants at the opening event

Last Updated: 11 March 2026