Highlights from the 2025 Award
The 2025 National Contemporary Art Award was won by artist Zena Elliott for an installation entitled 'The Silence Forced Upon Us Is Louder Than the Crown’s Declarations of Partnership and Fairness'.
The winning work was selected by guest judge and highly respected curator, Nigel Borell, from 53 finalists.
More than two decades on the cutting edge.
Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery has hosted and administered the National Contemporary Art Award since 2006, following its founding by the Waikato Society of Arts (WSA) in 2000. This makes it one of the longest running and most prestigious awards of its kind in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Celebrating excellence in contemporary art.
Explore the legacy of the National Contemporary Art Awards and the artists who have shaped contemporary art in Aotearoa. From bold statements to quiet reflections, each winning piece tells a story.
Entering the awards
Previously held annually, the National Contemporary Art Award is now a biennial competition, occurring every two years. Learn more about how to enter when the awards open in 2027.