Student artists make their mark receiving Visual Art Awards

2025 Creative Generation Excellence Awards crowns 40 outstanding students for top honours in visual arts.
More than 470 submissions from 164 schools showcase the depth of talent across Queensland students.
Award-winning works will shine on display at the Queensland Arts Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art in 2026.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering a fresh start for education and the arts after a decade of declines under Labor.

The Crisafulli Government has awarded 40 young student artists with this year’s Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Visual Art.

The awards recognise and celebrate the next generation of artists in senior Visual Art education in Queensland schools, with winning pieces taking centre stage at the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art in 2026.

The 40 Excellence Award winners – spanning from Cairns to the Gold Coast and out to Goondiwindi – impressed the judges with a stunning variety of works, including films, paintings, sculptures, wearable art, and more.

More than 470 submissions were received for the 2025 awards, with students from 164 state and non-state schools applying for the prestigious awards.

A further 116 students received a Commendation Award, and eight students – one from each education region – received a Regional Encouragement Award.

The Creative Generation Excellence Awards is an award program, funded through the 2025-26 Education Budget, that is delivering more opportunities for students and a fresh start for education.

The record $21.9 billion Education Budget is also delivering 15 new schools, more teachers, teacher aides, Workplace Health and Safety Officers and behaviour specialists.   

Minister for Education and the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said the awards program encouraged students to pursue their passions.

“Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Creative Generation Excellence Awards,” Minister Langbroek said.

“As the Minister for both education and arts, I’m incredibly proud to see our talented young students achieve great things.

“The awards provide young artists with industry recognition and show students what is possible when they are supported to reach their full potential.

“Whether it’s in literacy, numeracy, or the arts, we’re delivering a fresh start for Queensland’s education system and it’s incredible to see students from right across the State winning these awards.

“All Queensland children deserve a world-class education system, no matter where they live.”

The Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Visual Art is Queensland Government initiative, supported by program partner QAGOMA.

Queensland state and non-state schools offering senior Visual Art are invited to submit up to four students' artworks into the program each year.

Nominations for the 2026 program will open in early to mid-2026. For more information visit: https://creativegeneration.education.qld.gov.au/visual-art

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT: Kate Rogers 0426 414 298

2025 Excellence Awards in Visual Art winners list:

Abigail Beckwith, St Stephen's Catholic College (Mareeba)
Abigail Newell, Cleveland District State High School
Aliyah Fujiil, St Monica's College (Cairns)
Amelie de Vries, Lutheran Ormeau Rivers District School
Anna Whiteoak, St Aidan's Anglican Girls School
Annabelle Fu, Brisbane Girls Grammar School
Anniina Hyytinen, Brisbane State High School
Ava Jacques, Corinda State High School
Beatrice Hossen, Cairns State High School
Beau Rixon, Brisbane School of Distance Education
Bron Francis, Fairholme College (Toowoomba)
Connor Bashar, Queensland Academy for Creative Industries
Cooper Seeto, Marist College Ashgrove
Curtis Spencer, Brisbane Grammar School
Denver Loli, St Joseph's College (Brisbane)
Ellen Sleep, All Saints Anglican School
Felicity Taskis, Baringa State Secondary College
Hannah Dowey, Yeppoon State High School
Hope Tyrie, St Patrick's College Townsville
Imogen Higgs, Goondiwindi State High School
Isabella Adair-Ferris, Matthew Flinders Anglican College
Josiah Galer, King's Christian College
Maddy Coulthard, Freshwater Christian College
Kaitlin Davern, Albany Creek State High School
Miranda Hallam, Kelvin Grove State College
Mietta Milani, Queensland Academy for Creative Industries
Luke Jacobsen, Brisbane Grammar School
Isaac Cain, Cannon Hill Anglican College
Mischa Judd, Siena Catholic
Mikayla (Dara) Thong, Cannon Hill Anglican College
Natalia Balacinska, Nambour State College
Nicholas Charlson, Anglican Church Grammar School
Scarlett Swan, Trinity Bay State High School
Seanna Fitzpatrick, Queensland Academy for Creative Industries
Sienna Loban, St Monica's College (Cairns)
Slade Bailey, Miami State High School
Sophie Clayton, Whitsunday Anglican School
Taylor Wolski, Helensvale State High School
Zachary Nicholls, St Augustine's College (Cairns)
Zyon Nona, Woree State High School