Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize celebrates its 10th year in 2026. Aoife Moynihan talks to two of the judges who are former winners about its important place in the artist landscape.
The Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize has been inspiring female artists and showcasing their talent since the inaugural event in 2017, which attracted 789 entries. That figure has more than doubled with 1,750 entries for the 2026 Prize. The judges had a challenging task selecting 105 finalists, whose work will be exhibited at the two week Exhibition of Finalists which opens on 15 May. The winners will be announced on opening night.
Katrina Collins won the Emerging Artist Prize for Split Complimentary, acrylic on canvas, in the inaugural 2017 prize and has been a guest judge for the last five years. She’s a Ravenswood alumni and says she had an outstanding art education at Ravenswood that laid the foundation for her creative practice.
“Being awarded the Emerging Artist Award meant so much to me,” Katrina says. “Having this happen at a school where I was an alumni was especially sweet. The award has increased the interest in and the audience for my work and it continues to do so as the reputation of the prize continues to grow over time.”
Katrina grew up in a big family who entertained themselves by making things. “Both my mother and grandmother made beautiful stitched works, so I had making modelled to me from a young age,” she says. Her ‘inspiring and encouraging’ art teachers at Ravenswood nurtured Katrina’s interest and she went straight to art school after high school.
Colour, and the pleasure it can bring, inspires Katrina and she says she’s a ‘keen observer’ of colours in her environment which she explores in her work.
Katrina says that as the prize has grown, more emerging artists have gone on to have successful careers. “It is apparent from the increasing number of entries how much the artists value the exposure that it provides them,” she says. Katrina takes her ‘difficult’ role as a judge seriously and examines every single entry carefully, visiting the artist’s website and reading CVs. “The entries are rich and diverse and will offer a great deal with which any audience can engage. It takes time to make measured judgements,” she explains.
“It’s a brilliant experience working with the fellow judges and having conversations about the nature of art making and the qualities in particular artworks. That level of critical dialogue is very inspiring and rewarding to be a part of, as we work as a team to make final decisions.”
Suzanne Floro joined Ravenswood as principal this year
Joan Ross won the inaugural Professional Artist Prize in 2017
Katrina Collins won the Emerging Artist Prize in 2017
Katrina says there has always been gender inequality in the art world and that the prize is vital in advocating for women’s art.
“We are all well aware how few women artists have had works in major collections and in gallery representation over the years,” says Katrina. “If you look back at the history of art prizes, few were won by women although women have always made exceptional artwork. A prize such as this does so much to highlight the quality of women’s art.
“Galleries and museums have traditionally been managed by men. Art histories have most often been written by men, and women were omitted from the texts. My school textbook, a very thick history of art from prehistoric times to the modern day, had only two women artists in the entire book.”
As a school for girls from Prep to Year 12, Ravenswood was keen to address the poor representation of female artists in exhibitions. Principal Suzanne Floro joined the school this year and says the prize was launched because female artists ‘had not received the public accolades their work deserved.’
Moss Water Ice Temperature Rising, Janet Lawrence, Professional Artist Prize 2025
“Over the past decade, we have exhibited more than 1,000 finalists from every state and territory, each showcasing extraordinary originality and talent,” says Mrs Floro.
“As the highest value art prize for women in Australia, we are proud of the role we have played in supporting female artists to continue creating, and we are thrilled that the wider community has wholeheartedly embraced our mission to champion the incredible diversity in the Australian arts.”
The total prize pool of $58,000 will be split between the Professional Artist Prize winner ($35,000), Emerging Artist Prize winner ($7,500), and Indigenous Emerging Artist Prize winner ($7,500). There is also a People’s Choice Award of $2,000 plus a Derivan art pack valued at $500. Six Highly Commended Awards (two for each category) of $1,000 each will also be given.
Joan Ross won the Professional Artist Prize in the first prize in 2017 for her computer animated video Colonial Grab. She is a guest judge this year.
“Winning a big art prize is always good for your career but in different ways than you may think,” Joan says. “Artists, for a long time in their career, struggle to make ends meet and the generous Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize, for example, allows for more time to be spent focussed and actually making art.”
Joan’s art explores themes of colonialism from the perspective of Aboriginal Australia, and she uses fluorescent yellow and high-vis clothing as a symbol for colonisation and fear.
“I don’t think you can be anywhere in Australia and not think that this is Indigenous land,” she says. “I’m interested in first contact and the superiority of colonialism.”
Joan’s work process involves just ‘diving in at the deep end.’ “When I make videos, I fully trust the process,” Joan explains. “I don’t use storyboards but I do so with a full understanding of my intentions, my interest in greed, the landscape and the environment.”
As a judge, Joan says that she sees the work that goes into each piece. Joan says she has vast experience in the arts and the arts world, and that her ‘strong professional eye’ can mean that artists can get the break they need.
‘The level of critical dialogue is very inspiring.’
Katrina Collins, 2017 Emerging Artist Prize winner and 2026 guest judge
“To be honest, I don’t really like judging one work against another; how can you say that a painting in a particular style is better than another style or a sculpture?” she says. “I do worry, however, about the artists that don’t get in, as it isn’t an indicator that the work wasn’t worthy.”
Joan says that because of the prize, the students at Ravenswood School for Girls receive first-hand exposure to the breadth of what female artists are doing, which can be inspirational.
“Also, it creates another big platform for woman artists to get exposure and confidence – which is how it all starts,” Joan says.
Colonial Grab (video still), Joan Ross 2017
Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize 2026
Ravenswood School for Girls
10 Henry Street, Gordon
Exhibition of Finalists 15 to 31 May
Opening Night Friday 15 May I 6pm to 8.30pm
Tickets $35
Includes entry, gastronomic reflection with native ingredients and a selection of wines. Artworks will be available for sale online from opening night.
Exhibition entry free from 16 to 31 May,
Thursday to Sunday 10am to 4pm
