Arts & Culture
5 September, 2026
Seven local artists selected as finalists in prestigious sculpture show
Seven artists from the Southern Highlands, Wollondilly and Southern Tablelands have been selected as finalists in the prestigious Sculptures in the Garden to be shown in Mudgee in October.
Seven artists from the Southern Highlands, Wollondilly and Southern Tablelands have been selected as finalists in the prestigious Sculptures in the Garden to be shown in Mudgee in October.
They will be in the running for some of the $60,000 in acquisition prizes, with several works being exhibited.
The local artists are James Bunter from Bundanoon, Mark Kelly from Mittagong (two works), Sharon Romeo from Razorback, Bob Teasdale from Bowning (three works), Matthew Harvey from Murrumbateman (two works), Julie Brockenshire from Wilton and Nikki Sharp from Bundanoon.
Julie and Nikki will both be first time exhibitors at the event.
A record 134 artists from across Australia have been selected as finalists for the event, with around 300 works to go on show at the Rosby Wines, Gallery and Sculpture Garden.
The line-up - including a number of high-profile artists and entrants from across the country – will compete for the largest prize pool in the competition’s 16-year history.
The event will be staged from October 10 to 25 with a special opening evening on October 9 for artists and members. Becoming a ‘Friend of SIG’ ensures an invitation to mingle with artists and be the first to preview the exhibition, with every membership supporting the Friends of SIG Acquisition Prize, placing a permanent work in the prestigious Mudgee region’s public art collection. Tickets for the event are now available online and include access for visitors to participate in an exciting new event - ‘My Kingdom for a Horse’ - a hands-on community sculpture experience where visitors, with artist guidance, will help build a growing herd of life-sized horse sculptures alongside professional artists across the 16-day festival.
Special Guest and head of the judges panel, Orange Regional Gallery Curator Bradley Hammond, will lead a sculpture walk after he officially opens the festival on Saturday, October 10 at 11am and launches two weeks of creativity, connection and celebration.
This year’s program includes live music, a SIG for Kids CARNIVAL-themed exhibition, demonstrations, workshops and hosted tours, as well as the ever-growing herd of horses created with festival visitors for the new My Kingdom for a Horse display.
Built from nature, this evolving installation will eventually see the artworks distributed throughout the region, creating a lasting legacy for the festival.
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