arts

Leading First Nations artists celebrated at Cairns Indigenous Art Fair awards

Rhiannon Clarke - July 17, 2025

Hope Vale Art & Culture Centre received the Art Centre Award at the recent Cairns Indigenous Art Fair Art Awards. (Image: CIAF)

Queensland's top Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists were celebrated at the weekend as winners of the 2025 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) Art Awards, which spotlighted excellence, culture, and creativity in the industry.

Now in its ninth year, the awards responded to a timely theme of reflection, resistance, and future-focused storytelling in the wake of the 2023 Voice Referendum.

CIAF's 2025 honour roll recognised both emerging and established artists whose work challenges, inspires, and captures the evolving narratives of their communities — many of whom are featured in this year's Art Fair Showcase.

Hundreds of artworks were exhibited in the 2025 showcase, with a total prize pool of $60,000 awarded to six artists.

This year's six major awards recognised a diverse range of artists and art centres. Bernard Singleton (Yakal Creatives) received the $25,000 Premier's Award for Excellence for his work Offering (2025).

The Art Centre Award was presented to Hopevale Arts & Culture Centre, while Alick Tipoti received the Innovation Award for Mawaw Danaka (2025).

*Alick Tipoti received the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair Innovation Award. (Image: CIAF)*

Kyra Mancktelow was honoured in the 3D Design, Sculpture and Installation category for her full body of work, represented by N. Smith Gallery.

The Emerging Art Award (Acquisitive) went to Roy Gray (Bunda Art) for Syricarpia Gloulifera (Turpentine/Gulumbi), a collaborative piece with Jo Ann Beikoff and the People's Choice Award, announced during CIAF's closing ceremony on Sunday 13 July, was awarded to Dylan Sarra for his work Gulmari.

Winners were selected by an esteemed judging panel comprising Waanyi, Teppathiggi and Tjungundji man, artist and Aboriginal affairs advocate, Jack Wilkie-Jans, Burramattagal man, independent curator and 2022 Adelaide Biennial curator, Sebastian Goldspink, and the Museum of Contemporary Art's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Collections and Exhibitions curator, Meriam woman Rebecca Ray.

In a statement, the judging panel said: "The judges found Offering (2025) to demonstrate a mastery in traditional carving technique, producing an arresting and commanding work that audiences pay attention to.

"The innovative qualities of the work push the boundaries of First Nations' aesthetics and visuality, and to an impressive scale for the artist's practice. The piece is rooted in Djabugay/Yirrgay knowledge, which speaks to Singleton's upbringing and inter-generational storytelling."

*Cairns Indigenous Art Fair People's Choice Award winner, Dylan Sara. (Image: CIAF)*

"The work highlights reciprocal responsibility and the crucial role relationships play in caring for Country, for one another, our futures, and both the tangible and intangible aspects of the world.

"The Hairy Men (known by many names) have a presence across Singleton's and Tropical North Queensland's forests as protectors of Country, their associated and diverse Lore also connects knowledge from across First Nations Australia and globally.

"Through techniques rooted in both traditional and contemporary experimentation, Singleton embodies CIAF's 2025 theme, "Pay Attention!": Truth-telling through creativity.

"Singleton's contribution stands as both protest and invitation–urging people to pay attention to what is often unseen and unheard and to challenge them to reckon with the legacies and futures of Indigenous Sovereignty."

*Bernard Singleton awarded the excellence award. (Image: CIAF)*

Minister for Education and the Arts, John-Paul Langbroek, thanked CIAF for showcasing the work of talented Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists in Queensland.

"Congratulations to Bernard Singleton on winning the prestigious Premier's Award for Excellence – a richly deserved honour that recognises outstanding talent and cultural contribution," Minister Langbroek said.

"I would like to congratulate all nominees and winners of this year's Art Awards, whose remarkable and inspiring works are well deserving of this recognition."

CIAF's Artistic Director, Teho Ropeyarn, also extended warm congratulations.

"These awards are not just about recognising great art, they're about honouring our ancestors, amplifying our voices, and ensuring that future generations can see their stories and sovereignty reflected on canvas, in sculpture, and across every form of creative expression," Mr Ropeyarn said.