- Four Victorian sculptors selected as finalists in the Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2026
- Main prize $60,000
- Public voting opens today in the Civic Choice Award 2026
- Two-week residencies offered at Falls Creek Alpine Resort
Today the four finalists in the $60,000 Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2026 have been announced; one of Australia’s most valuable and respected art awards. The finalists are:
James Geurts Eliza Hutchison Vipoo Srivilasa Isadora Vaughan
The 2026 judging panel comprises three leading arts professionals: Maree Clarke artist, Max Delany independent curator, writer and consultant, and Sophie Oxenbridge, Senior Curator, Contemporary Art, National Gallery of Victoria.
Judge’s Statement: “The eighth triennial Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture highlights the vital role
sculpture plays in shaping our experience of urban space and the diverse communities that define public life. This year’s finalists engage with the public realm across physical, social and digital environments, exploring time, material transformation, cultural identity, environmental forces and technologically mediated worlds. Selecting only four finalists was challenging given the calibre of entries, and we thank all artists for their insight and imagination. We are pleased to announce James Geurts, Eliza Hutchison, Vipoo Srivilasa and Isadora Vaughan, whose practices demonstrate sculpture’s capacity to reshape contemporary environments.”
The Prize is open to Victorian artists at all career stages working across expanded forms of sculpture and will support the professional development of the winning artist.
Melbourne Prize Trust Executive Director and Founder, Simon Warrender OAM said, “the calibre of entrants this year in the Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture made the judges process challenging. This year’s prize program is made possible by the generous support of our patrons and partners,” he said.
Supported by Major Patron, The Vera Moore Foundation, the $60,000 (incl. GST) Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2026 will be awarded to a Victorian sculptor to directly benefit their artistic career and professional development.
Fed Square will provide $1,000 to each non-winning finalist.
Falls Creek Sculptors Residencies 2026 is supported by Falls Creek Alpine Resort and consists of two separate 14-day residencies, one to each of two recipients. Each recipient will receive $1,000 (incl. GST) supported by the Melbourne Prize Trust.
From 13–26 November, Founding Event Partner Fed Square will host a public information exhibit showcasing the four Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture finalists and online interviews with finalists, judges and partners. Visitors will be able to vote for the $2,000 (incl. GST) Civic Choice Award 2026.
Visit www.melbourneprize.org for further information about this year’s program.
Key dates:
• Fed Square public information exhibit 13 – 26 November
• Winners in all categories announced 26 November at www.melbourneprize.org
For interview opportunities or further information, contact Adi Stevens at Royce on 0407 411 088.
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which the Melbourne Prize Trust operates, the People of the Kulin Nation, and pay our respects to Elders past, present and future. Notes to the editor:
The Melbourne Prize Trust was established in 2005 to recognise and reward talent, excellence and inspire creative development. The Trust achieves this by running the annual Melbourne Prize, which is funded by private and public sector partnerships and patrons. The Melbourne Prize Trust and annual Melbourne Prize were founded by Executive Director, Simon Warrender OAM. Committee for Melbourne is a founding partner.
In its 22nd year and being one of the most valuable arts prizes of its kind in Australia, the annual Melbourne Prize operates in a three-year cycle, including the Melbourne Prize for Music & Awards (2025), Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture & Awards (2026) and the Melbourne Prize for Literature & Awards (2027).
Thank you to the Melbourne Prize Trust Chairman and Board of Directors.
Since inception, the annual Melbourne Prize has made available more than $2.5 million in prizes, residencies, equipment grants and an annual public exhibition at Fed Square to Victorian writers, sculptors and musicians.
The origins of the Melbourne Prize Trust date back to The Magic Pudding sculpture commission and CBD-based children's garden concept at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne – an initiative of Simon Warrender implemented in 1998 through Committee for Melbourne’s Future Focus Group.
Thank you to our Partners and Patrons:
The Vera Moore Foundation is acknowledged and thanked for their most generous support as Major Patron and key partner of the Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2026.
We acknowledge and thank Falls Creek Alpine Resort for supporting the new Falls Creek Sculptors Residencies.
Fed Square is the Finalist Fee and Foundation Events Partner and ‘home’ of the annual Melbourne Prize. Their generous support from inception is greatly appreciated.
The Melbourne Prize Trust is proud to have the City of Melbourne multi-year grant funding, as Government Partners.
Thank you to our Founding Partners Playground Studio, Committee for Melbourne, MinterEllison and EY.
Thank you to Hotel Partner Sofitel Melbourne On Collins, the Hotel for the Arts.
The visual identity and design for this year’s Prize is the creation of leading Melbourne design studio and Founding & Creative Identity Partner, Playground. Thank you to CEO Sally Dobell and the team for the generous partnership and for providing the head office of the Trust.
Thank you to this year’s patrons Diana Gibson AO, The Yulgilbar Foundation, Bill Kirk & Janine Kirk AO, Lindy M Shelmerdine and David K H Moffatt and The Scanlon Foundation.
Thank you Grant Thornton and Jamison Alliott for professional services. Many thanks to Kine Graffiti for the videography for the finalist interview and event photography. Thank you to 360Q as our catering partner and Evan Evans for providing the exhibition banners and signage.
Thank you to The Mighty Wonton for our IT support and website development and Royce for media services. Thank you to our Print Partners Ellikon, Spicers and Rothfield and Nyora Studio Gallery for hand-crafting the presentation trophy this year.
The Melbourne Prize Trust is proud to have Kutcha Edwards as its Cultural Advisor.
All announcements and further information will be available at www.melbourneprize.orgPast recipients:
Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2023 – Maree Clarke
Civic Choice Award 2023 – Vipoo Srivilasa
Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2020 - six finalists shared the Prize - Beth Arnold, Mikala
Dwyer, Emily Floyd, Nicholas Mangan, Kathy Temin and Field Theory.
Rural & Regional Development Award 2020 - Laura Woodward
Professional Development Award 2020 - Isadora Vaughan
Civic Choice Award 2020 - Field Theory
Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2017 - Daniel von Sturmer - Electric Light
(facts/figures/federation square), 2017
Public Artwork Design Concept Award 2017 - Emma Anna - The Elocwean Rainbow, 2017
Professional Development Award 2017 - Bridie Lunney - Fold, 2017
Rural & Regional Development Award 2017 - Fayen d’Evie
Civic Choice Award 2017 - Sarah crowEST
Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2014 – Geoff Robinson 15 locations/15 minutes/ 15days, 2014
Professional Development Award 2014 – Kay Abude Piecework (Federation Sqaure)
Rural & Regional Development Award 2014 – Aleks Danko
Civic Choice Award 2014 – Kay Abude Piecework (Federation Sqaure)
Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2011 - Bianca Hester A world, fully accessible by no living being
2011
Professional Development Award 2011 - Lucas Maddock and Isaac Greener Apostle No.2 2011
Civic Choice Award 2011 - Lucas Maddock and Isaac Greener Apostle No.2 2011
Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2008 - Alexander Knox maxims of behaviour 2008
Professional Development Award 2008 - Tom Nicholson Monument for the flooding of Royal Park 2008
VicUrban Award 2008 - Louise Paramor Tritonic Jam Session 2008
Civic Choice Award 2008 - Elaine Miles Reflections 2007
Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2005 - OSW: Terri Bird, Bianca Hester, Natasha Johns-
Messenger and Scott Mitchell groundings 2005
Professional Development Award 2005 - Karen Abernethy echophene 2004
Fabrication Award 2005 - Simon Perry Public Address 2005
Civic Choice Award 2005 - Matthew de Moiser Parasite 2005
Contact details:
For interview opportunities or further information, contact Adi Stevens at Royce on 0407 411 088.
