Leongatha Art and
Photography Show 2027
Celebrating its 50th Anniversary
Our 50th Art Show Exhibition will take place place at
Leongatha Memorial Hall
from Saturday 16 January to Saturday 6 February 2027.
Click on the link below for full details from the Art Show web site.
More than 23 Awards & Prizes
across 13 Entry Categories
Over some 50 years, the Rotary Club of Leongatha Art & Photography Show has become one of the major events and art shows in Gippsland.
Over 650 high quality entries have come from all over the region, Victoria and interstate to compete in various award categories including a large youth section, 3D, and All Abilities
This major show attracts many visitors, who come to view the works, all of which are for sale.
The venue is the Leongatha Memorial Hall, at the corner of McCartin Street and Michael Place in Leongatha.
On-line entry submissions from Artists for the 2027 Art Show will open from 9:00am on Friday 30th October 2026 and close at 6:00am on Friday 4th December 2026.
Visit the Art Show web site below for further information, conditions of entry and the link to the On-Line Entry Form.
2026 AWARD & PRIZE GALLERY
(Click on image to enlarge)
Note: Due to lighting and other reflections some images in the gallery do not present the artworks as they appeared to the naked eye.
2026 PHIL RISELEY PEOPLE'S CHOICE
Maureen Harley - ‘Pinehaven Woolshed'
The Phil Riseley People's Choice Award is determined by votes submitted by visitors to the exhibition.
2027 JUDGES
MELANIE CAPLE
Melanie is a contemporary artist, muralist and curator, having graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Art (Painting) from RMIT and holds a Masters of Arts Management.
Over the last fifteen years she has developed her creative practice to incorporate finely detailed oil paintings and large-scale exterior public works. Examining our relationship with the world around us and with a focus on immortalising a sense of place, she uses flora, colour and avian species to draw attention to the fragility and vibrancy of our landscape. Balancing detail with expansiveness, her artworks introduce moments of softness and surprise within urban environments, weaving together storytelling, symbolism, and subtle mythologies that evoke deeper internal narratives.
Rooted in a deep appreciation for detail and an instinctive grasp of colour and form, she cultivated her visual language at the intersection of Melbourne’s street art culture and fine art practice. It was within this space that her desire to infuse the urban environment with a painterly quality emerged.
Melanie has been commissioned to create public artworks in dozens of locations across Victoria, NSW and SA, working with local government bodies, commercial and corporate clients and private commissions.
She has been curated into group exhibitions and has staged solo exhibitions around Melbourne and in Gippsland, and she was a participating artist as part of Outrè Gallery’s annual exhibition LOCALS in 2026.
MARK JONES - PHOTOGRAPHY
I have been doing photographic work for over 30 years as a hobby and am very passionate about the art and its ability to capture a ‘Moment In Time, as seen through the eyes of the photographer.
For over 15 years I have taught photographic basics to like minded people so that I could help them get a greater understanding and satisfaction from their own photography.
I have photographed many subjects from Landscapes, Sport, Creative Time Lapse, Wildlife, to eventually taking up Underwater Photography and Film making on a small scale. My photographic and video work has been showcased at various festivals and local exhibitions. I have been a member of Pakenham Camera Club for many years where I spent a few years as club president.
I have Judged at several National Photographic competitions over the years and continue to Judge the Pakenham National Photographic competition which draws from many wonderful photographers across Australia.
The 2026 Art & Photography Show was held over three weeks from Saturday 17th January to Saturday 7th February at the Leongatha Memorial Hall.
The Memorial Hall is located at the corner of McCartin Street and Michael Place, Leongatha, Victoria, 3953.
The show opened to the public from 10:00am to 4:00pm Monday to Sunday.
Entry to the exhibition was $5.00 per person. Young people and exhibiting artists were able to enter the exhibition free of charge.
The Official Opening and announcement of the 2026 awards and prizes took place on Friday 16th January, with a gathering of more than 150 artists, guests, Rotarians and our judge for 2026.
Our guest judges, announced the winners of our various Categories as well as the selection of a 'Best in Show' work.
In 2026 the 'Best in Show' major award went to Glenn Hoyle for his painting, ‘Charles Bridge Prague'.
LIST OF 2026 AWARDS
BEST IN SHOW
‘Charles Bridge Prague’ – Glenn Hoyle
PAT WEST BEST OIL
’The Gully’ – Craig Davey
RICHARD PEGLER MEMORIAL BEST WATERCOLOUR
‘Pinehaven Woolshed’ – Maureen Harley
RON & JOY STANLEY AWARD FOR FLORA & FAUNA
’Strelitzia and Seafood 2' – Sue Jarvis
EZYAS BEST ACRYLIC
’The promise of Warmth’ – Greer Arnott
BEST PASTEL
‘Bush Study’ – Jacqueline Christians
BEST MIXED MEDIA
’Skylandings’ – Helen Nkansah
DAVID JOHN MEMORIAL BEST INK, PENCIL, CHARCOAL OR OTHER MEDIUM
‘A Quiet Space’ – Karen Rosato
SOUTH GIPPSLAND SHIRE RESIDENT AWARD (Any subject, any category)
‘Bush Morning’ – Julie Lundgre-Coulter
BEST MONOCHROME PHOTO
‘Elegance’ – Julie Gilbert
BEST COLOUR PHOTO
‘Blue Heaven’ – Sherie Howard
BEST DIGITALLY MODIFIED PHOTO
’The Morning Wren’ – Gary Beresford
BEST 3D OBJECT
‘Bass Coast Jellyfish: Bluebottle’ – Dina Goebel
SOUTH GIPPSLAND SHIRE COUNCIL AWARD FOR BEST YOUTH UNDER 13 YEARS
’Sunlit Petals of Quite Joy’ – Marieta Kholostenko
SOUTH GIPPSLAND SHIRE COUNCIL AWARD FOR BEST YOUTH 13 TO 18 YEARS
‘Guardians of the Valley’ – Joel Shinder
ALL ABILITIES AWARD UNDER 18
‘Rosso’ – Lorraine Alford
ALL ABILITIES AWARD OVER 18
’The Fancy Two Tailed Cat' – Stephanie Murdoch
HIGHLY COMMENDED AWARDS (6)
’The Visit’ – Chris Tuttle
‘Rooster’ – Regina Dudek
‘Royal Exhibition Building’ – Marian Quigley
‘Portrait of Nonna’ – Matthew Petrucci
‘Flooded Plains’ – Florence Crighton
’The Coat Hanger’ – Sharon Wootton
LUCIBLOOMS MEMORIAL YOUTH AWARD
’Pond-ering Koi’ - Lily Dewar-Oldis
LUCIBLOOMS MEMORIAL YOUTH AWARD HONOURABLE MENTION
‘Landscape’ – Ksenaii Chechkova
’Sunset Lake’ – Lilah Jun
PHIL RISELEY PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD
’Pinehaven Woolshed' - Maureen Harley