the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards featured a main prize plus six category prizes, with a total prize pool of .
Telstra Art Award The award was named the Telecom Australia First Prize from 1991 until 1995.. From 2022, the prize money was doubled from to . YearArtistTitleOriginNotes1984 Three ceremonies Northern Territory1985Pitjantjatjara Batik Northern TerritoryJoint winner1985TjanangkamurramurraNorthern TerritoryJoint winner1985Djawida NadjongorleNorthern TerritoryJoint winner1986 Living together, Working togetherNorthern Territory1987Blue-tongue LizardNorthern Territory1988Yarla DreamingNorthern Territory1989Yipala Bush Banana DreamingNorthern Territory1990Djang’kawuNorthern Territory1991Bandicoot DreamingWestern Australia1992BorlongNorthern Territory1993Eagle, Hawk & CrowNorthern Territory1994Lumpu Lumpu (Wet Time)Western Australia1995Ngura Palya Walkumunu (Being in a Good Camp)Northern Territory1996Storm in Atnangkere Country IINorthern Territory1997GanganNorthern Territory1998White Fellas Come to Talk Bout Land Western Australia1999Ulampuwarru (Haasts Bluff)Northern Territory2000Snake Tjukurrpa2001Salt in Mina MinaNorthern Territory 2002Birrkuda Ringgitj Hollow logNorthern Territory 2003Scientia E Metaphysica (Bell’s Theorem)Queensland 2004Gulumbu YunupinguGarak, the Universe Northern Territory 2005Blackstone Tjanpi Weavers Western Australia, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Tjanpi Grass ToyotaWestern Australia 2006Swamps West of NyirripiNorthern Territory 2007UbirikubiriTorres Strait Islands, Queensland 2008UntitledNorthern Territory2009Danie Mellor From Rite to RitualQueensland2010Papa Tjukurpa and PukaraSouth Australia2011Kanyalakutjina (Euro tracks)Western Australia2012KulamaNorthern Territory2013Golden Brown Reeds Fish TrapAustralian Capital Territory2014We Can Be HeroesQueensland2015KurtalKurtal, Western Australia2016Tribal abductionNorthern Territory2017, , Kulata Tjuta - Wati kulunypa tjukurpa (Many spears - Young fella story)Amata, South Australia2018Buyku Northern Territory2019Journey to America Northern Territory2020WirrkanjaNorthern Territory2021Timo HoganLake BakerWestern Australia2022Margaret Rarru Garrawurra Dhomala (pandanus sail) Northern Territory2023Keith WikmuneaKu', Theewith & Kalampang: The White Cockatoo, Galah and the Wandering DogQueensland2024Noli RictorKamantiWestern Australia 1984 Second and third prizes YearArtistTitleOriginNotes1984Fish trap storyNew South Wales1984 Second prize YearArtistTitleOriginNotes1984Three faces of the sunNorthern Territory1984 third prize
Telstra General Painting Award First awarded in 1985, then not awarded again until 1995 when it was called the Telstra Open Painting until 2000, when the name was changed to the Telstra General Painting Award. YearArtistTitleOriginNotes1985TjanangkamurramurraNorthern Territory1995Last of the Spiritual Black TrackersQueensland1996Memories of Fishing with the FamilySouth Australia1997Ration Day, Burnt BridgeNew South Wales1998Tarrajayan CountryWestern Australia1999Wild Black Plum DreamingNorthern Territory2000Tickelara CountryWestern Australia2001Midpul ("Prince of Wales")Body MarksNorthern Territory2002SuppertimeNew South Wales2003Syaw- Fish NetNorthern Territory2004Kurtal JilaWestern Australia2005Yam DreamingNorthern Territory2006The Witch Doctor and the Windmill Western Australia2007Near Ruined CityNorthern Territory2008UntiteledWestern Australia2009UntitledWestern Australia2010Papa Tjukurpa and PukaraSouth Australia2011UntitledNorthern Territory2012UntitledSouth Australia2013YalgumunkenQueensland2014Wirnpa and SonsWestern Australia2015Antara (Maku Dreaming)Northern Territory2016AntaraSouth Australia2017Ngura PiltiSouth Australia2018Ngura (Country)South Australia2021Bugai WhyoulterWantili (Warntili, Canning Stock Route Well 25)Western Australia2022Betty MufflerNgangkari Ngura (Healing Country)South Australia2023Julie Nangala RobertsonMina MinaNorthern Territory2024Lydia BalbalKeeping up with the BalbalsWestern Australia
Telstra Works on Paper Award YearArtistTitleOriginNotes1995WanurrSouth Australia1996NyapalinguNorthern Territory1997TapuWestern Australia1998Greg HaroldNew South Wales1999NgalyanhdohNorthern Territory2000Mako DjangNorthern Territory2001, Yuendumu DoorsYuendumu, Northern Territory2002Pumpuni JilamaraNorthern Territory2003Kuiyk ar mari - Head and Spirit (Reincarnation)Torres Strait Islands, Queensland2004TensioVictoria2005Remembered RitualVictoria2006A preponderance of aboriginal bloodNorthern Territory2007Gubau Aimai MabaigalTorres Strait Islands, Queensland2008DugamTorres Strait Islands, Queensland2009Likkanaya and MarraykaNorthern Territory2010SaulalTorres Strait Islands, Queensland2011Zuga ZugTorres Strait Islands, Queensland2012RacebookWestern Australia2013ApudthamaQueensland2014Scar Tree Barkindji CountrySouth Australia2015Milkali KutjuSouth Australia2016Battle of BikarQueensland2017Milkali Kutju – One BloodSouth Australia2018Mount Gillen, Western MacDonnell RangesNorthern Territory2019Our Old PeopleWestern Australia2021Ms M WirrpandaUntitledNorthern Territory2022Gary LeeNagiNorthern Territory2023Brenda Croftblood/memory: Brenda & Christopher IINorthern Territory2024Shannon BrettAn Australian LandscapeQueensland
Telstra Bark Painting Award YearArtistTitleOriginNotes1995Djang’kawu at BalanaNorthern Territory1996Madarrpa Miny’tjiNorthern Territory1997Bol’nguNorthern Territory1998BamurrunguWestern Australia1999Mardayin at MukkamukkaNorthern Territory2000UntitledNorthern Territory2001Magpie GeeseNorthern Territory2002BuluwanaNorthern Territory 2003GuwakNorthern Territory 2004Buluwana at Dilebang Northern Territory 2005, assisted by and YalangbaraNorthern Territory 2006Gungura (Wind Dreaming with Goanna Track)Northern Territory 2007Ngarra Body Paint DesignNorthern Territory2008Spike RushNorthern Territory2009Gumatj GurthaNorthern Territory2010Kunabibbe Ceremony at ManmoyiNorthern Territory2011Kayimwagakimi JilamaraNorthern Territory2012YukuwaNorthern Territory2013ApudthamaNorthern Territory2014Marrangu.Northern Territory2015Nonggirrnga MarawiliLightning in the RockNorthern Territory2016Lightning in the RockNorthern Territory2017LinesNorthern Territory2018Baraltja Dugong Yathikpa Northern Territory2019Nonggirrnga MarawiliLightning strikes Northern Territory2021Dhambit MunuŋgurrBees at GäṉgänNorthern Territory2022D. YunupinguYunupingu (the rock)Northern Territory2023Owen YalandjaNgalkodjek YawkyawkNorthern Territory2024Wurrandan MarawiliRumbal, the body / the truthNorthern Territory
Wandjuk Marika 3D Memorial Award (sponsored by Telstra) This award is named after notable bark painter Wandjuk Marika. It was previously known as the Memorial Award for Mawalan’s Eldest Son from until 1993. YearArtistTitleOriginNotes1987Milky Way (Milnguya) and CrocodileNorthern Territory1988WatchingQueensland1989Balangjalngalan SpiritNorthern Territory1990Tweret Spirits, Dingo Spirits, Njoorlum Spirits and Anthropomorphs of Aboriginal LifeWestern Australia1991Pitjantjatjara BatikSouth Australia1992Gurrmirringu and His WifeNorthern Territory1993Turtle & FishNorthern Territory1994Family Drama)Western Australia1995Path of Destruction from the Indigenous ArchivesNorthern Territory1996Hollow-log Bone-coffin with Gulach, Spike Rush DesignNorthern Territory1997Family of Yawkyawk MermaidNorthern Territory1998Rainforest Swords and ShieldsWestern Australia1999Hunting PartyNorthern Territory2000Jewel of the SeaTasmania2001Saltwater CrocodileQueensland 2002Eeranda Pmara NukanalaNorthern Territory 2003Conical FishtrapNorthern Territory 2004Lorrkon Hollow Log Northern Territory 2005MilngiyawuyNorthern Territory 2006DhakandjaliNorthern Territory 2007Goolburris on the Bungil CreekQueensland 2008Incident at Mutpi (1975)Yirrkala, Northern Territory2009Dhalktj - BilbyWestern Australia2010BamurrunguYirrkala, Northern Territory2011'Banumbirr (Morning Star poles)Western Australia2012Namorroddo.Northern Territory2013They come from nowhere.Alice Springs, Northern Territory2014Kaygasiw Usul (Shovel nose shark dust trail reflected in the heavens as the Milky Way)Torres Strait Islands, Queensland2015RhondaAlice Springs, Northern Territory2016We are all animalsNew South Wales2017Nyurruga MuulawaddiQueensland2018Destiny Northern Territory2019Rainbows in the lilies Northern Territory2021Hubert Pareroultja and Mervyn RubuntjaThrough the veil of timeWestern Australia / Northern Territory2022Bonnie Burangarra and Freda Ali WayartjaAn-gujechiyaNorthern Territory2023Anne Nginyangka ThompsonAnangu HistorySouth Australia2024Obed NamirrkkiKunkurraNorthern Territory
Telstra Emerging Artist Award The Telstra Youth Award was established in 2014 and was redeveloped into the Telstra Emerging Artist Award in 2017. YearArtistTitleOriginNotes2014YerrgiNorthern Territory2015BuninyongVictoria2016Sunlight energy IINorthern Territory2017Ngangkari NguraSouth Australia2018Banumbirr (Morning Star Poles)Northern Territory2019Queen ElizabethNorthern Territory2021Kyra MancktelowMoongalba 11Queensland2022Louise MalarviePamarr YaraWestern Australia2023Dhalmula Burarrwaŋawanha, dhika, nhawi?Northern Territory2024Josina PumaniMaralingaSouth Australia
Telstra People's Choice Award This prize was established in 2007. YearArtistTitleOriginNotes2007Tyemeny Liman’s Wutinggi - Grandpa Harry’s CanoeNorthern Territory2008AdhikuyamTorres Strait Island, Queensland2009Wave Bust...Windy NightNorthern Territory2010MokuyNorthern Territory2011Seven sistersSouth Australia2012YukuwaNorthern Territory2013My CountryNorthern Territory2014The Eddie Mabo StampsTorres Strait Island, Queensland2016Trophy wifeNew South Wales2017Pregnant yawkyawkNorthern Territory2018, , , , Seven sistersSouth Australia2019GarnkinWestern Australia2020Nyunmiti BurtonNgayuku NguraSouth Australia2021Sally ScalesWati TjakuraSouth Australia2022Juanella McKenzieHold meSouth Australia2023Emma SingerNgayuku Ngura Telstra Multimedia Award This award was established in 2018. YearArtistTitleOriginNotes2018Patrina Liyadurrkitj MununggurrDhunupa'kum nhuna wanda (Straightening your mind)Northern Territory2019Gutiŋarra YunupiŋuYolŋu sign language (Clan language – Dhuwalandja)Northern Territory2020Siena Mayutu Wurmarri StubbsShinkansenNorthern Territory2021Pedro WonaeamirriJilartiNorthern Territory2022Jimmy John ThaidayBeyond the Lines (a video work)Erub, Torres Strait Islands2023Jimmy John ThaidayJust Beneath the SurfaceErub, Torres Strait Islands2024Natalie DaveyRiver ReportWestern Australia
Discontinued awards Museums & Art Galleries Award This prize was first awarded in 1986 and was discontinued in 1995. YearArtistTitleOriginNotes1986Three faces of the sun Western Australia1987Namarrodo SpiritNorthern Territory1988Night Sky at GarmediVictoria1989Ration Day, Burnt BridgeNew South Wales1990Tarrajayan CountryWestern Australia1991Wild Black Plum DreamingNorthern Territory1992Tickelara CountryWestern Australia1993Water BirdsNorthern Territory1994SuppertimeNew South Wales
Rothmans Foundation Award The Rothmans Foundation Award was established in 1987 and discontinued in 1994. YearArtistTitleOriginNotes1987Young Men’s DreamingNorthern Territory1988NgalyodNorthern Territory1989Niwuda and Naraka DesignNorthern Territory1990NawalabikNorthern Territory1991BorlkjamNorthern Territory1992Jilamara, DesignNorthern Territory1993NamorrodohNorthern Territory1994WuyalNorthern Territory
Peter Stuyvesant Cultural Foundation Award YearArtistTitleOriginNotes1986Pukumani PolesNorthern Territory
Open Media Award YearArtistTitleOriginNotes1985Pitjantjatjara BatikNorthern Territory New Media Award YearArtistTitleOriginNotes20111985Upi Mop Le – Tail end man"A personal victory dance mask"; in collaboration with filmmaker John Harvey for the video element
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Further reading