Albany Creek and Strathpine locals don’t have to travel far to see some of the region’s best emerging and established artistic talent, with the Moreton Bay Art Prize 2026 now on show at Pine Rivers Art Gallery.
The annual exhibition brings together 36 shortlisted artists from across the City of Moreton Bay, offering a snapshot of the people, places and stories shaping the region’s creative community.
This year’s first prize has been awarded to Elimbah-based artist Rachel South for Sun-Kissed Chestnut (2025), a richly detailed painting that turns something as familiar as hair into a striking and almost landscape-like work.
A closer look at the everyday
South’s painting is part of an ongoing series exploring hair as both a personal detail and a broader visual landscape. In Sun-Kissed Chestnut, warm copper and chestnut tones are used to capture strands of hair in close detail, creating a work that feels both intimate and expansive.
Judge Dr Simon Degroot praised the painting for the way it transforms an everyday subject into something monumental. He noted South’s technical skill in capturing light, texture and movement, and said the work encourages viewers to slow down and look more closely.
South’s wider practice explores connections between nature, the body and emotion, drawing inspiration from the natural environments of the Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast regions.
Stories that feel close to home
While the winning work is a highlight, the broader exhibition offers plenty for local visitors to connect with.
Second prize was awarded to Lucie Verhelst for The Dance of Compassion (2026), a textile work that invites people to think about empathy, vulnerability and the quiet strength found in human connection.
Third prize went to Redcliffe artist Blair Garland for Greetings from Redcliffe (2025), a handmade album featuring 19 painted portraits of local homes. The work reflects on the changing face of suburban neighbourhoods and the distinctive houses that can disappear as areas grow and redevelop. For residents in Albany Creek, Strathpine and nearby suburbs, that theme may feel especially familiar.
Highly commended works included Belinda Krumm’s Garland of Beads (2025), a large-scale ceramic installation shaped by 108 community wishes for the future; Shan Michaels’ Narratives We Wear (2026), a textile work exploring identity, connection and belonging; and Mel Brady’s Grasp the sparrow’s tail (2026), a personal reflection on grief, family and memory.
A local outing worth making
Mayor Peter Flannery said the Art Prize highlights the depth of creative talent across Moreton Bay and shows how arts and culture help build connected, vibrant communities.
For Albany Creek and Strathpine residents, the exhibition is a simple way to support local artists and enjoy a cultural outing close to home. Visitors can also have their say by voting in the People’s Choice Award before Saturday 18 July.
The Moreton Bay Art Prize 2026 exhibition is on display at Pine Rivers Art Gallery, 130-134 Gympie Rd, Strathpine QLD 4500, Australia.
Published – 17 July 2026
