See The Winners Of The 2025 Telstra NATSIAA!
Creative People
Installation view of the 2025 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards exhibition at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT). Photo – Charlie Bliss
The NATSIAA exhibition is on show until January 26 2026. Photo – Charlie Bliss
Telstra Multimedia Award Winner 2025, Pitta Pitta (Extracted) and Pitta Pitta (Google’s Gaze) by Jahkarli Felicitas Romanis. Courtesy of the artist. Photo – Charlie Bliss
Telstra Emerging Artist Award Winner 2025, Mat by Sonia Gurrpulan Guyula. Courtesy of the artist and Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts. Image Georgina Campbell.
Telstra Work on Paper Award Winner 2025, Present & Beyond by Naomi Hobson. Courtesy of the artist. Image Georgina Campbell.
NATSIAA Telstra Art Award Winner 2025, Burwu, blossom by Gaypalani Waṉambi. Courtesy of the artist. Image Georgina Campbell.
Telstra Multimedia Highly Commended 2025, Joan of Arc: Arika by Johnathon World Peace Bush and Doriana Bush. Courtesy of the artist. Image Georgina Campbell.
Telstra General Painting Highly Commended 2025, Kirriwirri by Daniel Walbidi. Courtesy of the artist and Short St Gallery. Image Georgina Campbell.
Left: Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award Winner 2025, Ngalkodjek Yawkyawk by Owen Yalandja. Courtesy of the artist and Maningrida Arts & Culture. Image Georgina Campbell.
Right: Telstra Bark Painting Winner 2025, Bawáliba & Ngalyod by Lucy Yarawanga. Courtesy of the artist and Maningrida Arts & Culture. Image Georgina Campbell.
Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Highly Commended 2025, Guḏurrku by Binygurr Wirrpanda. Courtesy of the artist and Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka. Image Georgina Campbell.
Telstra General Painting Award Winner 2025, Walawuru Tjurkpa (Eagle story) by Iluwanti Ken. Courtesy of the artist and Tjala Arts. Image Georgina Campbell.
Known as the richest art awards of its kind, the 2025 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award shines an important spotlight on the talent and cultural strength of First Nations artists across the country.
The winner of this year’s prestigious titular award is Gaypalani Wanambi from Yirrkala, Arnhem Land for her monumental etched metal work, Burwu, blossom — taking home $100,000.
The giant three-square-metre metal work depicts the epic song poetry story of Wuyal (the Ancestral honey hunter of her Marrakulu clan) delicately engraved onto the silvery back of 15 discarded road signs. Wuyal was the first man to look for a homeland for the Marrakulu people.
The judges dubbed it an ‘exceptional work that visually and materially explores different relationships to and understandings of Country.’
Yolŋu artist Gaypalani Wanambi is following in the footsteps of her late father, acclaimed artist Mr W. Wanambi, who she assisted growing up. He was also a three-time winner of various NATSIAA awards.
The awards also celebrated six other winning works from the shortlist of 71 finalists, with each winner taking home $15,000.
Jahkarli Felicitas Romanis — a Melbourne-based artist and Monash University lecturer of Pitta Pitta descent — utilised Google Earth mapping tools to create distorted images of Pitta Pitta Country for her diptych, which won the Telstra Multimedia Award.
Meanwhile, a beautiful weaving featuring bush dyed fibres by 27-year-old Sonia Gurrpulan Guyula took home the Telstra Emerging Artist Award.
All the winning pieces and the finalist’s works are now showing in a exhibition at Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT), on until January 26 2026.
Telstra Art Award
Burwu, blossom by Gaypalani Waṉambi
Telstra General Painting Award
Walawuru Tjurkpa (Eagle story) by Iluwanti Ken
Telstra Bark Painting Award
Bawáliba & Ngalyod by Lucy Yarawanga
Telstra Work On Paper Award
Present & Beyond by Naomi Hobson
Telstra Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award
Ngalkodjek Yawkyawk by Owen Yalandja
Telstra Multimedia Award
Pitta Pitta (Extracted) and Pitta Pitta (Google’s Gaze) by Jahkarli Felicitas Romanis
Telstra Emerging Artist Award
Mat by Sonia Gurrpulan Guyula