Exhibiting the Mandorla Art Award 2026: 9-30 May
The entries are in and the judges have shortlisted 42 finalists from over 250 submissions submitted by artists all across Australia. The Mandorla Art Award is supported by a wonderful group of sponsors, donors and patrons whose partnership ensures that Mandorla can contribute to the cultural life of Australia through the creative responses of Australia’s artists. $63,000 will be awarded in prize money during an exhibition held at Holmes à Court Gallery @ no.10, Gooyaman West Perth from 9-30 May. The 2026 Mandorla Award invited artists to respond to the theme: What is Truth? “I was afraid, because I was naked: and I hid myself” – Genesis 3:10.
The Mandorla Art Prize is an acquisitive prize sponsored by St John of God Health Care ($30,000). Other prizes which will be awarded include a People’s Choice Prize provided by the Benedictine Community of New Norcia and two Highly Commended Prizes sponsored by the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth and the Anglican Diocese of Perth. Mandorla is delighted to include a new award, the Emerging Artist Prize, which is sponsored by the University of Notre Dame. The Award is honoured to announce that the 2026 Highly Commended Prize sponsored by the Anglican Diocese of Perth will be named for the Rev’d John Ward, artist, priest and member of the Mandorla Committee, who passed away in 2025.
Having viewed the works of the finalists, the Chairperson of the Mandorla Art Award Committee Angela McCarthy commented, “This Award has shown some extraordinary and challenging interpretations of ‘what is truth?’ with reference to Genesis 3:10. I am amazed at the diversity produced by notable artists from around Australia.”
“I am amazed at the diversity produced by notable artists from around Australia.”
– Dr Angela McCarthy
The 2026 Mandorla Art Award winners will be announced at the Opening Night ceremony on Friday 8 May with the works of all the finalists exhibited at Holmes à Court Gallery @ no.10, Gooyaman West Perth from 9-30 May. The Opening Night is an invitation-only event and offers Mandorla’s community of supporters and artists an exclusive first look at the exhibition. This event will be livestreamed on Facebook. The exhibition remains open from 11am to 5pm on Wednesday to Friday and 12 noon to 4pm on Saturdays. Further details can be found on Humanitix (https://events.humanitix.com/2026-mandorla-art-award-exhibition).
The Mandorla Art Award is recognised as Australia’s most significant thematic Christian art prize, having attracted some of the country’s finest artists since its inception in 1985. The Award is held every two years. It is a contemporary fine art award in conversation with a Biblical text. Mandorla invites artists to engage with the biblical texts which we believe speak to the heart of what it means to be human, to our relationships with one another and to the world that is our home. The high calibre of the creative partnership between Mandorla and artists continue to make an important contribution to the cultural life of Australia. Mandorla is proud to partner with the New Norcia Community who have created a permanent home for the Mandorla collection: a collection of winning pieces that spans 40 years.