The Eastern Southland Gallery has taken the top prize at the 2026 Southland Creative Arts Awards, with its exhibition of paintings and prints about the Mataura River named Supreme Winner on Saturday night.
The exhibition — a series of 26 works by artist Jo Ogier — explores the ecological and geographical landscape of the Mataura River catchment. It was a three-year collaborative project involving the gallery, Hokonui Rūnanga, and a range of specialist advisors drawing on oral histories, ecological research and local knowledge of the Mataura River Valley and its surrounds.
Gallery curator Jim Geddes said the award reflected how many people had a hand in making it happen.
"It was a real team effort. It was great to have the Rūnanga there, along with the various people who helped us out with specialist advice. Jo Ogier is over the moon."
The Gore-based gallery won't be keeping the momentum to itself. The exhibition is heading north.
"The good news is that the show is being reassembled and will be installed at Te Atamira in Queenstown and opening in November. It will get an audience of thousands up there," Geddes said.
Gore District Council operations manager David Bainbridge-Zafar said the recognition was well earned — and pointed to a longer future for the work.
"It's great that the team from the Gallery were recognised at the weekend, and it's also worth noting this exhibition will form part of the Māruawai Centre in time."
For a regional gallery punching consistently above its weight, a Supreme Award at the Southland Creative Arts Awards is the kind of validation that's hard to argue with. The Mataura River has been painted before. Apparently not like this.