By Sonia Isaacs
MASTERPIECES by 40 of the Sunshine Coast’s leading artists are now on display at Caloundra Regional Gallery, with the opening of the Local Contemporary Art Prize 2026 drawing strong interest from across the region’s arts community.
Maleny artist Marvene Ash has been awarded the $10,000 Best in Show acquisitive prize for Studio furniture (hare hiding), a quietly powerful oil painting set within her studio.
Guest judge Kerryanne Ferrer commended the work for its timeless quality and technical mastery, highlighting its ability to transform an intimate, everyday scene into a compelling artistic statement.
Ash, who has been practising for more than 40 years and has called the Sunshine Coast home since the mid-1980s, is recognised for her still life works that reflect on art history, creative imagination and the realities of an artist’s environment.
The 2D Excellence Award went to Maleny-based artist Ketakii Jewson-Brown for Tender love, a framed photographic pigment print.
The piece captures a gentle moment between two hands, conveying emotional depth through simplicity.
Jewson-Brown’s broader practice spans photography, collage, mixed media and animation, often shifting between realism and the absurd, but Tender love was noted for its quiet, reflective tone.
In the 3D category, Maroochydore artist Samantha Mays received the Excellence Award for Head in the sand, a mixed-material sculpture incorporating sterling silver, 18-carat gold, found dice and sand collected from Maroochydore Beach.
The work impressed for its inventive use of materials and strong conceptual presence.
Now in its 12th year, the Local Contemporary Art Prize is regarded as one of the Sunshine Coast’s premier visual arts awards.
Since its inception in 2014, it has provided a platform for emerging, mid-career and established artists working across diverse mediums.
The 2026 exhibition features 40 finalists selected from across the region, with a total prize pool of $17,000.
Presented by Caloundra Regional Gallery in partnership with Friends Regional Gallery Caloundra, the prize continues to highlight the breadth and vitality of local contemporary practice.
The exhibition runs from March 27 to May 17, with free entry.
Visitors can attend the gallery in Caloundra or view the finalists online and cast a vote in the People’s Choice Award.
CRG is located at 22 Omrah Avenue, Caloundra.
