The 2026 winner of the Calleen Art Award is Anthony Cahill with his large oil painting A Question of Timing, 2025, announced Saturday 5 September 2026 at Cowra Regional Art Gallery.
Clearly humbled, Anthony expressed that “it has been a long time between drinks”, in his off-the-cuff acceptance speech, with reference to the Art Gallery of NSW Travelling Art Scholarship he had been awarded in 1982. With Anthony’s work being that of a “painters’ painter”, it was no surprise someone in the audience called out, “tell us about the work”. He shared with the audience some of his painting process where his works are not planned from the outset per se but evolve into being through the painting process. Painted as part of a series of works created in dialogue with some surrealist works from the Hassall Collection, A Question of Timing also references a land slip in Blackheath, where Anthony is based. However, despite Anthony’s thoughts and references in his work, he says he’s happy for others to read into and interpret his work as they will.
The Award Judge Georgia Connolly, Head of Regional Engagement, Access and Learning at the Art Gallery of New South Wales described Anthony’s work as one that “stuck in her mind” from the initial selection of the finalists with fellow selection judges Bridget Guthrie, Director, Tamworth Regional Gallery and John Cheeseman, Partner, Interchange Art Projects. In awarding this work the 2026 Calleen Art Award acquisitive winner, she said that this work of Anthony’s is a “mastery of storytelling” that “rewards curiosity”.
Acknowledging being on Wiradjuri Country following Auntie Esther Cutmore generous Welcome to Country and appreciation of this Award, Georgia described The Calleen Art Award is one of regional Australia’s most respected awards. With Georgia having some family roots in Cowra, Mayor Paul Smith warmly included her as “almost a local”, in good-humoured country fashion. With generous hospitality by the Fagans of the Calleen Trust, the audience heard that Georgia has been afforded some rich new family stories to take back home with her. Cowra Mayor Paul Smith talked of Peter and Jenni Fagan’s continued support of The Calleen Art Award, since Mrs. Patricia Fagan’s establishment of the Award in 1977 being highly valued by the people and institutions of Cowra, as is the work being led by Cowra Regional Art Gallery Director Cassandra Hard Lawry since her arrival over 18 months ago.
Along with Anthony Cahill winning the Calleen Art Award, four artists’ works were Highly Commended including Michael Simms, Leah Thiessen, Jane Tonks, and Sarah Waghorn.
The Calleen Art Award is funded by the Calleen Trust. The winning artwork will join the Calleen Collection at the Cowra Regional Art Gallery. The 2026 Calleen Art Award consists of 56 finalists from over 400 national entries.
The 2026 Calleen Art Award is at Cowra Regional Art Gallery until 18 October 2026. Other events coming up in Cowra Regional Art Gallery during the Calleen Art Award exhibition period include:
- Paths of Rhythm, a video production workshop with video artist Gustralia aka DJ King Brown, 25 September 2026
- Bell Beats arts Quarter, art, video and artmaking workshops, 3 October 2026
- Drawing up late in October, 14 October 2026
Images credit Nic Mason:
1. & 8. Anthony Cahill with his winning Calleen Art Award work A Question of Timing, 2025, oil on linen,
2. Auntie Esther Cutmore with her Welcome to Country,
3. Jane Tonks with her Highly Commended work From forest floor to the heavens, basking in the fading flush of golden light, 2026, acrylic on canvas,
4. (from L to R) Jenni and Peter Fagan of the Calleen Trust, artists Anthony Cahill, Sarah Waghorn and Jane Tonks and Cassandra Hard Lawrie, Director, Cowra Regional Art Gallery,
5. Mayor Paul Smith (Cowra Shire Council) addressing the audience,
6. Sarah Waghorn with her Highly Commended work Walk Around the Pandani Trees, 2025, oil on jute,
7. Award Judge Georgia Connolly of Art Gallery of NSW talking to Anthony Cahill of his winning work.
