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2026 marks an incredible 43 years of the prestigious Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA) — celebrating excellence and innovation in contemporary Indigenous art since 1984.
Last night, The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) announced this year’s winners.
Taking home this year’s top prize and $100,00 is Northern Territory-born Marri Ngarr artist Ryan Presley for his standout oil painting Our lifestyle of tranquillity undisturbed.
The artist referenced Domenico Beccafumi’s The Annunciation (c. 1545-1546) to create his own, distinctly Renaissance-styled painting, carefully recontextualised.
The judges — Julie Gough, Yhonnie Scarce, and Warraba Weatherall — note, ‘Ryan’s painting is a standout in terms of successfully drawing together diverse cultural, cross cultural and art history references to successfully hold a viewer in affective contemplation about the past, present, future of the figure centrally depicted and by extension the cultural life, memories and responsibilities, they and their compatriots are maintaining, at all costs.’
The awards also celebrated six other artists, each taking home $15,000.
All the winning pieces and the finalist’s works are now showing in a exhibition at MAGNT, on until January 24, 2027.
Discover the winners of the Telstra NATSIAA 2026 below:
Telstra Art Award
Our lifestyle of tranquillity undisturbed, by Ryan Presley
Telstra General Painting Award
Arrkurla Nukala / Lyaarta Ntema, by Vanessa Inkamala
Telstra Bark Painting Award
The hidden reef at Yarrinya, by Barayuwa Munuŋgurr
Telstra Work on Paper Award
Taking back taken, by Jenna Mayilema Lee
Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (sponsored by Telstra)
Djambatj – Deadly hunter, by Napuwarri Marawili
Telstra Emerging Artist Award
Prismatic arc, by Guruwuy Murrinyina
Telstra Multimedia Award Telstra
Ngirramini Ngini Amparruwu (The story of the widow), by Colin Heenan-Puruntatameri
