PERRY PRIZE PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD
27 Mar 2026
...the 21st Perry Prize comes to a close
We congratulate Victorian artist Shannon Field, winner of this year’s $25,000 acquisitive prize, selected from 41 finalists, for Unnatural History (Bat Blue). Congratulations to Eamonn Jackson, recipient of the 2026 People’s Choice Award for Memory. Thank you to all artists who entered, and everyone who visited and supported the exhibition.
About The Prize
The Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing is a $25,000 acquisitive award recognising excellence and ambition in contemporary drawing across Australia. A $2,000 non-acquisitive People’s Choice Award is also presented.
Each year, a curated selection of emerging and established artists from around the country is shortlisted and exhibited at the Adelaide Perry Gallery, showcasing the breadth and vitality of drawing practice today.
Congratulations to Victorian-based contemporary artist Shannon Field , winner of the 2026 Perry Prize for Drawing, as judged by Scott Elliot, Assistant Curator, Australian Art at the Art Gallery of NSW.
Shannon takes home the $25,000 acquisitive prize , one of the most significant drawing awards of its kind in Australia.
Selected from a strong field of 41 finalists, Shannon’s winning work, Unnatural History (Bat Blue) , charcoal and oil paint stick on paper, explores themes of environmental precarity, fragmented representation and the instability of contemporary ecosystems.
Congratulations to Eamonn Jackson, who took out the People’s Choice Award in the 2026 Perry Prize for Drawing for his work Memory, graphite on paper (46cm x 91cm).
Congratulations to the 41 finalists for the 2026 Perry Prize:
- Ann Arora
- Maree Azzopardi
- Anthony Bartok
- John Bokor
- M Bozzec
- Matt Bromhead
- Jack Buckley
- Peter Burke
- Tom Carment
- Marwa Charmand
- Louisa Chircop
- Sally Clarke
- Edward Essing
- Shannon Field
- Todd Fuller
- Kendal Heyes
- Melinda Hunt
- Eamonn Jackson
- Jennifer Little
- Lily Mae Martin
- Kerry McInnis
- Noel McKenna
- Isobel Rayson
- Lucienne Rickard
- Jacqueline Rose
- Jacqueline Searson
- Jas Shalimar
- Peter Sharp
- Neridah Stockley
- Catherine Tait
- Jayanto Tan
- Wendy Teakel
- Claire Tozer
- Datsun Tran
- Murat Urlali
- Claudio Valenti
- Kate Vassallo
- Craig Waddell
- Paul White
- Aliki Yiorkas
- Paula Zetlein
We are delighted to announce that this year’s judge is Scott Elliot, Assistant Curator, Australian Art at the Art Gallery of NSW.
Scott is a visual arts curator, writer and editor with extensive experience leading exhibition and publication projects, and brings a thoughtful, expert eye to this year’s prize.
Entries closed at midnight, Wednesday 14 January 2026.
- Complete the online entry form
- Upload a recent CV or artist biography
- Pay the $50 non-refundable entry fee (per work)
- Submit image files labelled:
lastname_firstname_title.jpg
For long titles, please use an abbreviated version.
By entering, you confirm you have read and agree to the Terms & Conditions.
CONTACT
Adelaide Perry Gallery
In 'The Croydon' Centre for Art, Design & Technology
Corner of Hennessy and College Streets
Monday to Friday – 8.30 am to 4.00 pm
Saturdays – 11.00 am to 4.00 pm
T: +61 2 97045693
E: adelaideperrygallery@plc.nsw.edu.au
