2025 Minnawarra Art Awards winners announced

The 2025 Minnawarra Art Awards opening night took place on Friday 2 May 2025, celebrating the depth of talent and announcing the deserving winners for this year.

The Minnawarra Art Awards kicked off the opening of Armadale Arts Festival, as artists and guests gathered to view the exhibition, and share the evening in celebration of Western Australian art. The curated exhibition is once again being held in the Kim Fletcher Gallery at the Armadale District Hall, where guests and artists viewed the artworks on display before the award announcements.

Mayor Ruth Butterfield said: “The Minnawarra Art Awards continue to showcase an exceptional range of artworks from across Western Australia. Congratulations to all exhibitors and our deserving winners. We are proud that these awards always provide a high-quality arts experience for our community to enjoy.”

Congratulations to our 2025 winners who share in the $25,000 prize pool:

City of Armadale Art Award: $12,000 acquisitive award

Artist: Charmaine Ball

Artwork title: Intrigue

Judge’s comment: There is a timelessness about the form and shape of this work. When walking around this bold clay sculpture, the planes become active and seem to keep moving. The conscious decision to work with a porous, chalky surface entices a slower looking as the light bounces through and off the form. The statement evokes the historical and material context for the work and reflects on the evolution of modern sculpture. 

Gerry Gauntlett Award: $5,000 non-acquisitive award

Artist: Carla Adams

Artwork title: The Search Continues

Judge’s comment: This work deliciously lacks self-confidence yet is underpinned by tenacious material decisions and an exacting focus. The statement delightfully reveals a yearning and a continuing search for a shooting star, adding an immediacy and emotional response to the work. 

Aboriginal Artist Award: $3,000 acquisitive award

Artist: Brett Nannup

Artwork title: Wunda

Judge’s comment: In this print there is a freshness in the drawing that creates a dynamic image. There is a strong sense of design that reflects the patterns of a shield while the shape of the etching plate adeptly echoes the form. Overall, the work has a strong presence and power and calls our attention.

Local Artist Award: $3,000 acquisitive award 

Artist: Leesa Padget

Artwork title: Macro

Judge’s comment: There is a technical finesse in this work, with its inventive shapes, microscopic parts and exquisitely detailed surfaces. There is a connectivity between the spheres, spaces and species. The circular forms invite the viewer to look - with a type of scientific observation - at the individual parts while simultaneously focussing on the whole.

Highly Commended: $2,000 non-acquisitive award

Artist: Holly O’Meehan

Artwork title: Grasping For What's Still Available

Judge’s comment: This work has a beautiful juxtaposition of forms and surfaces that creates a visual drama. This is made manifest by the spikiness of one form, with its oozing glaze at the base, that echoes the organic aspects of nature. This contrasts with the solid footed form that represents a dominance over the other that provides a dynamic visual tension between the two parts.

The artwork will remain on display throughout Armadale Art Festival, and will feature several additional events like the Positive Ageing High Tea, Artists Floor Talks and Tactile Tours. You can find out more about these events on the Festival website.

Thank you to Ron Nyisztor for once again curating this high calibre selection of works. This was the first year we had a selection panel, so thank you to Louise Dickmann, Yvonne Doherty and Ron Nyisztor for taking on that role.

Thank you to Stockland, for contributing $5000 to sponsor the event, and to Lotterywest as the sponsor of the wider Armadale Arts Festival.

You can find out more about Armadale Arts Festival on the festival website.