2026 Art Exhibition

South Coast Private Hospital; Ground Floor, 112 Burelli Street, Wollongong.

Friday 20 March 2026, 4pm – 6pm.

Art will remain featured in exhibition until Monday 6 April 2026.

Must be collected on Thursday 9 April 2026.
 

Artistic achievement and creativity in the category of visual arts.

Winners:

• Ames – Sarah’s city "Sarah’s City began as a fun collaboration between two friends imagining an expansive, colourful city. At the beginning of the project Sarah passed away after a short illness. Continuing the painting alone became both difficult and deeply meaningful. While I was working on it, it felt as though a part of her was still present in the process. Completing the work became a quiet act of remembrance. Sarah’s City now stands as a tribute to friendship, imagination and the enduring presence of those we create with".
• Paul M – Eye of the hunter "This is my favourite painting to date.  It was 30 hours of work.  It made the finals of the BBC Wildlife Artist of the Year. Very exciting".

Artistic achievement and creativity in 3-dimensional creations (includes sculpture, crafts and 3D art).   

Winners:

• Jennifer C – Bound by archaic notions – a woman’s place is in the home
• Brian Q – Dia de los muertos

Artistic achievement and creativity in literary arts.

Winner:

• Natalie R – The first 24 "This song has multiple meanings but the most prominent is the very first night I spent in South Coast Private Hospital in 2025. I was an absolute wreck when I came in and the nurse who I spoke to and helped me calm down had such a profound impact on me. This is my small way of saying thank you".

Artistic achievement and creativity of artists at early or hobbyist stages of their art journey. 

Winners:

• Heidi S – Sketches of Italy "A sketchbook of images I have drawn over the last 5 weeks in Italy. This trip was something I had wanted for 7 years, and was continually unattainable due to my relationship with food, anxiety, the pandemic and self-safety. 8 months ago I was an inpatient for the dozenth time. Now I sit in front of iconic sites like the Pisa Tower and Florence Duomo. These sketches feel imbued with the experience and representative of finally moving on to a new phase in my life. Learning to sketch for this project was more about learning to observe and appreciate details and be mindful of the world around me. I have enjoyed taking the time to learn a new skill and the things I learned in the South Coast Private Creative Therapies Day program which have also helped me to become more mindful and grounded. I have submitted photos of a selection of photos from the book".
• Guy – The veil "Inspired by @artroomoff".

Artistic achievement and creativity, raising awareness of the experiences and talent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Eligibility: artist must identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person. 

Winner:

• Roy – Spirit birds "Gathering of the spirit birds".
   

   

   

Artistic achievement and creativity on the subject of LGBTQIA+ PRIDE in any form. Artists are free to apply their own interpretation in representing the theme.

Winner:

• Amy - Love 
   

Service Art Award - Artistic achievement and creativity of service personnel. Eligibility: open to current and former service personnel including ADF, DVA and emergency services.

Winner:

• Suzanne C – Held within "Held Within explores tension and connection through layered fabric forms drawn together across a soft, neutral ground. Structured yet delicate, the intersecting lines suggest intimacy without exposure - a quiet strength formed through restraint. I’m now a mixed-media artist, songwriter, and writer based on the South Coast of NSW. Creating has always been how I slow down and relax - a way to switch off, focus, and reset. My work is inspired by nature and lived experiences. I’m drawn to how things change over time and how small, repeated moments shape us more than big ones. Through intuitive layers and colour, I explore connection, resilience, and finding steadiness in the present. I hope my work offers others a pause - a sense of calm, recognition, or quiet strength - and a reminder that progress doesn’t have to be fast to be meaningful".

This award offers exhibition viewers the opportunity to vote for their favourite art piece. Voted by attending guests at the opening event on Friday 21 March 2025, 4pm – 6pm. All submissions eligible.

Winners:

• Christopher O – One stitch at a time "Putting in the hard work and time to thread yourself back together".
• Emma E – Soul Flames "Lighting candles for loved one’s souls is a universally recognised act which bridges religion and culture. It is a symbolic gesture of prayer and remembrance, the flame's light and warmth bringing a tangibility to loss".