Poimena Gallery has announced the inaugural Poimena Prize for Abstraction, a new $15,000 national art prize dedicated exclusively to abstract practice, the first of its kind in Australia, and Harrison Agents is proud to be one of its founding supporters.
Abstraction has been central to modern and contemporary art for more than a century, yet until now there has been no major national art prize in Australia devoted solely to the field. The Poimena Prize aims to change that by creating a focused national forum for abstract art based here in Tasmania.
About the Poimena Prize for Abstraction
Open to emerging and established artists from across Australia and New Zealand, the prize invites entries across painting, photography, printmaking and expanded two-dimensional media. Low-relief works are also eligible, and finished pieces must not exceed 120cm in length or width, including the frame.
Around 30 finalists will be selected for exhibition at Poimena Gallery in Mowbray, bringing together a diverse snapshot of contemporary abstract practice from both sides of the Tasman. The winner will be chosen by a panel of respected artists, curators and arts professionals, to be announced, and will receive $15,000 while keeping ownership of their artwork.
One word to inspire: SHIFT
Each year the prize will be guided by a single prompt word. For the inaugural prize, that word is SHIFT.
Rather than prescribing an interpretation, SHIFT offers artists an open point of departure to explore movement, transition, convergence and transformation through colour, material, process and spatial relationships. The result promises to be a wonderfully varied exhibition and a fresh conversation about what abstraction can be.
Key dates
Thursday 1 October 2026: Entries open at 10am (AEST)
Friday 15 January 2027: Entries close at 6pm (AEST)
Wednesday 3 February 2027: Finalists notified by email
Wednesday 3 March 2027: Selected works delivered to Poimena Gallery
Friday 12 March 2027: Exhibition opens and winner announced
Friday 9 April 2027: Exhibition closes
Artists can find full entry conditions and submit their work here.
Why we’re proud to be involved
The Poimena Prize for Abstraction is made possible through the generous support of Launceston Church Grammar School, Madeline Gordon Gallery and Harrison Agents Launceston.
As a Tasmanian-owned business with offices in the north and south of the state, we believe thriving communities are built on more than bricks and mortar. Arts and culture shape the character of the places we call home, and a national prize of this calibre brings artists, visitors and fresh attention to Tasmania. Being part of an Australian first, launched in our own backyard, is something our whole team is excited about.
You can read more about the organisations and initiatives we support on our initiatives page.
Be part of it
Whether you’re an artist ready to respond to SHIFT or an art lover planning a visit to Launceston next March, we’d love you to get behind this exciting new prize. Visit the Poimena Prize website for all the details, and keep an eye on our latest news as the exhibition draws closer.
