Twenty-five finalists were selected from over 80 entries, showcasing the incredible diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artistic expression. Finalists included notable artists such as Kylie Caldwell, Karla Dickens, Kieran Karritpul, and Virginia Keft, as well as youth finalists Ezra Baker, Tykiah Brown, Harley Green, and Aria Kitchener.
At the opening celebration on Saturday, 30 November, guest judge Rebecca Ray, Curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Collections at the Museum of Contemporary Art, announced the winners. Ray noted the exceptional quality of entries, which highlighted diverse Indigenous cultural expressions from remote communities to urban centres.
The $10,000 Koori Mail Art Award was won by Penny Evans for ‘The Elephant’ 2024. Rebecca praised the ceramic work as a powerful blend of traditional Gomeroi markmaking and contemporary politics, telling stories of resilience, survival, and strength.
Highly commended was Melissa Ladkin Balun for ‘Milky Way’ 2023, a work exploring the interconnectedness of celestial and terrestrial realms, resonating with Indigenous cosmology and navigation practices.
Damien Shen won the $3,000 Innovation Award for ‘Entombed in Joy’ 2024. Rebecca described Shen’s intricate shields as metaphors for resistance, identity, and cultural survival, reflecting his Ngarrindjeri, Kaurna, and Chinese heritage.
The $500 Friends of the Gallery Youth Award went to Aria Kitchener for ‘Born to Revolt’ 2023. Rebecca noted the transformative role of digital art in youth expression and praised the work’s reflection of activism and cultural identity. Highly commended in the youth category was Zyon Nona for ‘The Australian Dream’ 2024, a deeply personal debut addressing racial discrimination.
The Koori Mail Indigenous Art Award is a biannual event hosted at Lismore Regional Gallery, with shortlisted works on display until 2 February 2025. Lismore Regional Gallery Director Ashleigh Ralph highlighted the Koori Mail collaboration as a vital platform for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to share powerful stories and creativity.



Photos courtesy Dunoon and District Gazette
This article appeared in the Dunoon and District Gazette, December 2024-January 2025.