Forty young student artists have received the Queensland Government’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.
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.
2025 Excellence Awards in Visual Art winners are:
- 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 (pictured), 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
Nominations for the 2026 program will open in early to mid-2026. For more information visit: https://creativegeneration.education.qld.gov.au/visual-art.
