Finalists announced for 2026 Telstra NATSIAA

Selected from 221 entries, the 64 works span bark painting, sculpture, multimedia and works on paper, with themes of intergenerational storytelling, the continuation of culture, connection to Country and the enduring impacts of Australia’s colonial history.

Presented by the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) in partnership with Telstra, the awards have been curated, shortlisted and judged by Gail Mabo and Dean Greeno alongside 2026 Guest Curator Dr Shannon Brett – a Wakka Wakka, Butchulla and Gurang Gurang artist, curator and researcher.

This year also marks 40 years of the Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award, commemorating Yolngu artist and leader Wandjuk Marika OBE (1927–1987), and 35 years of Telstra’s principal sponsorship of Australia’s longest-running Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art award.

Total prize pool: $190,000, including the $100,000 Telstra Art Award.

The exhibition opens at MAGNT on 27 June 2026, with winners announced at the ceremony on Friday 7 August.

Full List of Finalists:

Australian Capital Territory

• Jennifer Kemarre Martiniello OAM (Lower Southern Arrernte, Canberra) – Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award

New South Wales

• Kevin ‘Sooty’ Welsh (Wayilwan, Wayilwan Coonamble) – Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award

Northern Territory

• Adrian Jangala Robertson (Warlpiri, Mparntwe/Alice Springs) – Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award
• Anniebell Marrngamarrnga (Kuninjku, Gun-nartpa; Maningrida community/Ji-balbal outstation) – Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award
• Arnhem Land Collaborative (26 artists) – Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award
• Artists of Ampilatwatja – Elizabeth Ngwarraye Bonney, Nancy Pitjara Frank, Rita Pitjara Beasley, Valerie Kemarre Lewis (Alyawarre, Ampilatwatja) – Telstra Work on Paper Award
• Barayuwa Munuŋgurr (Miwatj, Rurraŋala) – Telstra Bark Painting Award
• Billy Tjampitjinpa Kenda (Luritja, Pitjantjatjara; Mparntwe/Alice Springs) – Telstra General Painting Award
• Binygurr Wirrpanda (Yolŋu Matha, Yirrkala) – Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award
• Cameron Kawurlkku (Ndjébbana, Kuninjku; Manayingkarirra/Maningrida) – Telstra Bark Painting Award
• Carol Puruntatameri (Tiwi, Pirlangimpi community, Tiwi Islands) – Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award
• Colin Heenan-Puruntatameri (Tiwi, Milikapiti) – Telstra Multimedia Award
• Graham Tipungwuti (Tiwi, Wurrumiyanga/Bathurst Island) – Telstra Bark Painting Award
• Gunybi Ganambarr (Yolŋu Matha / Miwatj Region, Gäṉgan) – Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award
• Guruwuy Murrinyina (Yolŋu Matha / Miwatj Region, Gäṉgan) – Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award
• Gutiŋarra Yunupiŋu (Yolŋu Matha / Miwatj Region, Yirrkala) – Telstra Bark Painting Award
• Ishmael Marika (Yolŋu Matha / Miwatj Region, Yirrkala) – Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award
• Janet Marawarr (Kuninjku, Maningrida) – Telstra Work on Paper Award & Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award
• Joe Guymala (Kunwinjku, Gunbalanya) – Telstra Work on Paper Award
• Johnny Warrkatja Malibirr (Ganalbingu, Gapuwiyak) – Telstra General Painting Award
• Julie Nangala Robertson (Warlpiri, Yuendumu) – Telstra General Painting Award
• Justine Anderson (Pitjantjatjara, Finke) – Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award
• Karen Rogers (Ngalakan, Ngukurr) – Telstra General Painting Award
• Ken Wayne Kantilla (Tiwi, Wurrumiyanga) – Telstra Bark Painting Award
• Kenan Namunjdja (Kuninjku, Maningrida community) – Telstra Bark Painting Award
• Louise Robertson (Warlpiri, Alice Springs) – Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award
• Napuwarri Marawili (Yolŋu Matha / Miwatj Region, Yilpara) – Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award
• Reginald Sultan (Kaytetye, Darwin) – Telstra General Painting Award
• Rena Ngalinggama Guyula (Djambarrpuyngu, Gapuwiyak) – Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award
• Robert Namarnyilk (Kunwinjku, Jabiru) – Telstra Work on Paper Award
• Russell Ngadiyali Wanapuyngu (Wagilak, Gapuwiyak) – Telstra General Painting Award
• Sabrina Nangala Robertson (Warlpiri, Yuendumu) – Telstra General Painting Award
• Sally M Nangala Mulda (Luritja, Pitjantjatjara, Arrernte, Yankunytjatjara; Mparntwe/Alice Springs) – Telstra General Painting Award
• Semeria Wurrkidj (Kuninjku, Maningrida) – Telstra Bark Painting Award
• Steven Jupurrurla Nelson (Warlpiri, Yuendumu) – Telstra General Painting Award
• Ursula Napangardi Marks (Warlpiri, Lajamanu) – Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award
• Vanessa Inkamala (Western Aranda, Alice Springs) – Telstra General Painting Award
• Walter Brooks (Tiwi, Milikapiti) – Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award
• Wanapati Yunupiŋu (Yolŋu Matha / Miwatj Region, Yirrkala) – Telstra Bark Painting Award
• Warren Garrawitja (Yolngu, Darwin) – Telstra General Painting Award
• William Mareko (Torres Strait Creole/Kalaw Lagaw Ya, Darwin) – Telstra General Painting Award
• Wulu Marawili (Yolŋu Matha / Miwatj Region, Yirrkala) – Telstra General Painting Award
• Yalmakany Marawili (Yolŋu Matha / Miwatj Region, Yirrkala) – Telstra General Painting Award
• Zora Mukumiri (Kuninjku; Mankorlod outstation and Maningrida) – Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award

Queensland

• Ryan Presley (Marri Ngarr, Logan City) – Telstra General Painting Award
• Teho Ropeyarn (Angkamuthi/Yadhaykana, Cairns) – Telstra Work on Paper Award

South Australia

• Betty Muffler (Pitjantjatjara, Indulkana) – Telstra General Painting Award
• Fiona Pompey (Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara, Fregon) – Telstra General Painting Award
• Frank Young (Pitjantjatjara, Amata) – Telstra General Painting Award
• George Cooley (Yanyuwa, Coober Pedy) – Telstra General Painting Award
• Harriette Bryant (Pitjantjatjara, Mimili) – Telstra General Painting Award
• Iluwanti Ken (Pitjantjatjara, Amata) – Telstra General Painting Award
• Leshaye Swan (Yankunytjatjara, Adelaide) – Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award
• Ngarlaa, Ngayan and Ngintaka Donovan (The Donovan Sisters) (Adnyamathanha, Luritja, Lower Southern Arrernte and Gumbaynggirr; Port Augusta) – Telstra Multimedia Award
• Tiarnie Rose Edwards (Ngarrindjeri, Kaurna Yarta) – Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award
• Zaachariaha Fielding (Pitjantjatjara, Adelaide) – Telstra General Painting Award

Victoria

• Jenna Mayilema Lee (Larrakia, Karajarri, Wardaman; Melbourne) – Telstra Work on Paper Award
• Marlene Gilson (Wadawurrung, Gordon) – Telstra General Painting Award

Western Australia

• Allery Sandy (Yindjibarndi, Mingullutharndo Community/5 Mile) – Telstra General Painting Award
• Darryl Dempster (Noongar, Perth) – Telstra General Painting Award
• Ian Rictor (Pitjantjatjara, Tjuntjuntjara community) – Telstra General Painting Award
• Michelle Anderson (Pitjantjatjara, Tjuntjuntjara community) – Telstra General Painting Award
• River Bali (Gija/Kija, Byford) – Telstra Work on Paper Award
• Sylvia Wilson (Martu, Parnpajinya/Newman) – Telstra General Painting Award