Winner Inside This Box Art Prize 2026
Inside This Box Art Prize Finalists Exhibition 2026.
Winner Inside This Box Art Prize 2026
We are delighted to announce that this year’s First Prize winner is Map of Play by Elizabeth Sullivan.
From the moment I encountered this work, it stayed with me. I am always drawn to colour, originality and texture, and I look for something that surprises me and lingers long after I have stepped away. In a world that can feel heavy and uncertain, we all need moments of joy. This piece, to me, is pure joy. It feels meditative and generous, inviting close viewing, curiosity and a sense of play, something many of us could embrace more of right now.
Elizabeth is a full-time Sydney-based textile artist who creates tactile stitch paintings inspired by the natural world. Working intuitively with thread, yarn and beads, she builds layered compositions on linen and canvas, balancing spontaneity with careful refinement. Map of Play explores pattern, shape and mark-making through stitch and beading, loosely referencing natural pathways and imagined landscapes.
Elizabeth Sullivan, Map of Play, Hand stitched and beaded on painted linen, 22x22cm framed.
For those new to our art prize, the brief is intentionally simple: an artwork of any medium and any subject, as long as it measures under 30cm in any direction. That small scale always results in an incredibly diverse and dynamic exhibition.
This year we received over 270 applications from artists across Australia, which we carefully narrowed down to 100 finalists. Being selected as a finalist is an achievement in itself, so a huge congratulations to every artist included in this year’s exhibition.
The works are judged on originality, creativity, concept, quality, technical skill, marketability, and alignment with our audience. It is genuinely an agonising process to choose the finalists, let alone select one overall winner from such a thoughtful and wide-ranging collection of beautiful works.
We are proud to offer two awards this year. The People’s Choice Award is generously sponsored by Chalou Wines, with visitors invited to vote for their favourite artwork throughout the exhibition. The winner will be announced at the close of the show.
First Prize is a $1000 cash award, generously sponsored by Sale Street Real Estate. We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors. Opportunities like this simply would not be possible without their support.
Thank you to all of the artists, our sponsors, and everyone who joined us to celebrate. We are so grateful for your continued support.
SALE STREET REAL ESTATE - FIRST PLACE CASH PRIZE $1000
Established in Orange NSW in 2024, Sale Street Real Estate Orange is the product of years of industry experience in buying, selling and renting, focused on relationship building, local knowledge and trust. Headed up by Directors Rosie Long and Will Miller, the agency has had clear direction on where the Sale Street Real Estate brand needed to land right from launch and has built a strong reputation throughout the Orange real estate industry.
At Sale Street Real Estate Orange, we’re committed to creating and sustaining a partnership with our clients based on open communication and trust. The Sale Street concept adapts and grows with the wants and needs of our community, respecting each individual we meet along the way.
CHALOU WINES - PEOPLE’S CHOICE MAGNUM OF 2022 MOURVÈDRE
Nestled in the heart of the Orange region on Wiradjuri Country, our award-winning winery is one of the best wineries in the region, leading the way with an authentic bud-to-bottle experience.
Owners and vignerons, Nadja and Steve, have a strong connection to the land and a genuine love for viticulture.
Their love for the craft shines through in every bottle of wine, capturing the ever-changing essence of the vineyard.
Our mission is simple: to create wines that express a true sense of time and place. We love what we do and can’t wait to share it with you.