congratulations to Ryan Presley who has been awarded the 2026 Telstra NATSIAA prize for his monumental painting ‘Our lifestyle of tranquility, undisturbed’, 2026.
The painting takes its title from Cook’s earliest observations of Aboriginal people: "They live in a tranquillity which is not disturb’d by the inequality of condition.” It continues and extends Ryan’s ongoing enquiry into the history of renaissance imagery through the lens of contemporary Aboriginal life. An exhibition of new work will feature at the gallery next year.
