2026 IHC Art Awards winners announced
Samuel Willcox from Auckland has won the annual IHC Art Awards and a $5000 prize for his work Hero in Blue.
Samuel said he was “feeling happy” about the win.
“I chose to paint Batman because Kirsten (support worker) helps me read Batman and I like that.”
Samuel has been practising art for about four years and attends a regular Thursday art session at studio two4nine and practices with support workers. His work won first prize from 530 entries from all over Aotearoa New Zealand.
The collection can also be viewed and individual works bought online at: ihc.org.nz/gallery
Deanna Morgan, 22, from Christchurch, was awarded second prize for Mama Chicken, made from textiles and felt wool. Deanna said her artwork was inspired by her mum, Arlene.
The chicken, sitting on a nest of eggs, holds notes written by Deanna, her brother, father and mum to their mothers saying how much they love them.
“My mum has helped me through some really hard times, and she is the best mum I could ever have,” Deanna says. “She has sacrificed her dream job to be a stay-home mum and I wanted to show how much great mums sacrifice.”
Deanna said she was proud that people like Mama Chicken and it came second in the Art Awards.
The studio Artists in the Making, in Whitianga, won The Holdsworth Charitable Trust Scholarship Award. Studio coordinator Lizzie Leckie says the prize money will go a long way and help fund new materials and art tutors.
Paradise Ducks 2026, by Paige Macpherson, Whitianga Harbour 2026 by Brian Jarvie, and Happy Lion 2026 by Caroline Tatton-Brown were the artworks entered by Artists in the Making.
Paige said she was “happy and impressed” that people liked their art. She said her painting was inspired by ducks on a pond in winter.
Brian, in his 70s, says he took up art about 15 years ago and it makes him happy.
“I love doing pictures and sometimes I sing while painting them,” he says.
The IHC Art Awards winners in each category are:
- First Place: Samuel Willcox – Hero in Blue
- Second Place: Deanna Morgan – Mama Chicken
- Third Place: Kerry Poff – My Pussycat Mia
Youth Award:
- James Harrison-Uren – Stay Away From My Train
The Holdsworth Charitable Trust Scholarship Award:
Artists in The Making, Whitianga
- Paige MacPherson – Paradise Ducks 2026
- Brian Jarvie – Whitianga Harbour 2026
- Caroline Tatton-Brown – Happy Lion 2026
All Art Awards entries are exhibiting at Webb's Wellington until Thursday 6 August.
The collection can also be viewed and individual works bought online at: ihc.org.nz/gallery
The winners were selected by a judging panel comprising Mark Hutchins-Pond, Elizabeth Caldwell, Michel Tuffery, and Tim Walker.
