2025 Mid West Art Prize hands out $37,500 to winning artists, as dozens of works featured in GRAG exhibition

The 2025 Mid West Art Prize was launched with style and panache as more than 400 art lovers gathered to celebrate some of the State’s finest talent. The biennial event was opened at Geraldton Regional Art Gallery with a gala night on Saturday, as the exhibition featuring works from 64 artists took over both levels and marquees were set up in the carpark. The Mid West Art Prize celebrates the work of a diverse range of contemporary WA artists, with live entertainment provided by Carly Markham and King Ibis, roving performances by visual and performance artists The Huxleys, and a projected lightshow on the eastern wall of the gallery. Judges had their work cut out, with $37,000 in prizes shared across six categories. The winners and exhibited artists were shortlisted from more than 200 entries. The main prize of $20,000 for the City of Greater Geraldton overall acquisitive award went to Newman artist Kathleen Maree Sorensen for her artwork Tuwa (Sandhills), which has been acquired by the gallery and will remain in the permanent collection. Judges concluded “you will never get bored looking at this work”. Daniel Shiosaki won the City of Greater Geraldton Aboriginal artist award for his work, titled When Cultures Collide, saying he was proud the piece represented both his Japanese and Aboriginal heritage, with a contemporary feel. With her work titled Touch, Don’t Look, winner of the Bowman-Bright young artist award Willow Mcauliffe from Geraldton said her piece was a “paradox” and she wanted to “play with” the usual “look, don’t touch” approach. Landscape painter, agriculture mechanic and art gallery tour guide Jacob Mangan of Jerramungup won the Regional Arts WA emerging artist fellowship for his piece Are Thylacines Still Alive? “I want to ask people what they can trust in the day of social media and misinformation and AI — what you see online, can you take it as true?” The Mid West Development Commission Mid West artist award was won by Chris Bolton for their artwork named Unhoused/Unheard, while Dominique Coiffait took home the Melissa Price MP packers award for their piece titled Love Your Bush: Geraldton to Mount Magnet Road by Mullewa. The public can vote on the Durlacher Dental Care people’s choice prize, which will be revealed when the exhibition ends on January 26.