Published on Monday, 15 September 2025 at 8:51:39 AM
Western Australian artist Everlyn Sturges has taken out the prestigious City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Acquisitional Major Prize for her evocative work, The Unforgettable Shed.
The announcement was made at the official Art Prize Awards evening on Friday night, where artists, families, and art lovers gathered to celebrate creativity and officially open this year’s exhibition.
Judges praised Sturges’ piece for its extraordinary attention to detail and its ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia through familiar everyday objects. The Unforgettable Shed will now become part of the City’s permanent Art Collection.
Mayor Glenn Wilson said the Art Prize is one of the City’s most prestigious events and highly regarded by artists from across Western Australia.
“The Art Prize is something we’re incredibly proud of as a community. It’s not just about awarding winners – it’s about giving artists, both emerging and established, a platform to share their stories and talent. You can feel the pride and energy in the room when the winners are announced.”
“What I love most is how it brings people together. Whether you’re an artist, a local, or a visitor, there’s something special about walking through the exhibition and experiencing the creativity on display. It makes you stop, think, and really connect with the work.”
“Events like the Art Prize show that Kalgoorlie-Boulder is more than a mining town – it’s a city with a rich and growing arts scene. It’s fantastic to see national recognition, but what makes me proudest is celebrating the incredible talent we have right here in the Goldfields.”
Mayor Glenn Wilson also spoke of the City’s pride in hosting such a prestigious event, noting that this year’s new hallmark celebration, KALeidoscope, builds on the strong foundations laid by the Art Prize.
He said Sturges’ winning artwork in particular left a lasting impression.
“Ms Sturges’ artwork is something that will Bring emotional connection to anyone who views this piece. It’s a very relatable work, reminding us of grandparents’ sheds, home garages or those spaces where we all store tools and equipment – they may look disorganised, but they always work. It’s a true emotional experience.”
This year's exhibition features an exceptional range of works from artists across Australia, with artists competing for a share of the $40,000 prize pool across ten categories.
2025 Category Winners
Acquisitional Major Prize
- The Unforgettable Shed by Everlyn Sturges
Judges’ Comments: Very skilled artist. Impressive attention to detail, with the perspective captured perfectly in each individual item. Relatable nostalgia of the men in your life.
Artwork by a Kalgoorlie-Boulder Artist
- The Great Western Woodlands by Jane Fisher
Judges’ Comments: The overall execution is skilled in selection of fabrics, color and composition. Elevated by fine attention to detail. The golden thread highlights. Grabs and brings you into more layers of surprise.
First Nations Art Award
Judges’ Comments: The optical effect exaggerated the story to show the movement of the water flow. Very representative of First Nations, but gives it the extra mile. Very skilled artists.
Painting Award
- Autumn Hills - Dusk by Vania Lawson
Judges’ Comments: No words. So exquisite. Suggestive. Poetical. Soft Blended.
Photography Award
- An Hour East of Norseman by Scott Fisher
Judges’ Comments: Great composition. Different layers of the story. First one as a big picture of the theme, and the second layer as you get closer you can see little stories behind each little picture.
We can see different stories behind every little picture, like little tails. Very well executed. The colors gain intensity if you watch it.
Works on Paper Award
- 30th of July 2024: Dear Diary… by Suzanne K Franklin
Judges’ Comments: Great to discover under the light. “I just like it” Simple concept, very well done executed. The use of light in it. Elegant.
Mixed Media and Textile Award
Judges’ Comments: Precise execution captures a quirky.
3D Sculpture Award
- Yilba-Goanna by Brent Johnston
Judges’ Comments: The smell dimension is very magnetic. The sculpture grabs you with its smell. The shape and the curves of the Yilba-Goanna are so real. It seems it is moving and alive. The use of the different knots shows a great technique.
Young Artist Award
- Fishing by the sea by Hamish Darveniza
Judges’ Comments: A familiar memory for many. You can feel it. They captured the light on the dunes and cloud shadows on the land. Clouds were loose, flowing, Great execution by a young artist.
The exhibition is now open at the Goldfields Arts Centre daily from 10am to 3pm (excluding public holidays) until 17 October 2025. Entry is free, and visitors are encouraged to vote for the People’s Choice Award, to be announced at the close of the exhibition.
2025 Art Prize Winners
View the winners and a take a live tour of the exhibition.
Click here
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