2025 Moreton Bay Art Prize Awarded
Published 30 June 2025
- Local artist Blair Garland awarded Moreton Bay Art Prize 2025
- The annual Pine Rivers Art Gallery exhibition celebrates local stories and artists
- Voting for People’s Choice Award continues until 19 July
Local artist Blair Garland has been awarded the Moreton Bay Art Prize 2025 winner for her deeply personal and thought-provoking artwork titled Flesh and Blood (2025).
Garland’s winning work explores themes of identity, memory, and transformation through the lens of menopause. In Flesh and Blood, she repurposes bed linen, scarves, dresses and her own hair collected during her transition through menopause. These symbolic materials offer a visceral and tangible connection to Garland’s past and present self, examining ageing and womanhood with raw honesty and artistic sophistication.
Mayor Peter Flannery said the 42 shortlisted artists highlights the scope of creative talent across City of Moreton Bay.
“Our Moreton Bay Art Prize recognises the outstanding artistic abilities of our local community,” Mayor Flannery said.
“We’re proud to support the artists that call City of Moreton Bay home by providing the opportunity to exhibit their work, connect with new audiences, and take away $10,000 in prize money.
“This year’s exhibition is a rich showcase of the stories, cultures, and contemporary practices that shape our City. I encourage residents to visit the exhibition at Pine Rivers Art Gallery to vote for their favourite artwork.
“We are committed to elevating the role of art in community and culture and continue the rich tradition of the Moreton Bay Art Prize that began over 30 years ago.”
Councillor Jim Moloney, who presented the award, said the evening was a celebration of creativity and storytelling.
“It was an honour to present this year’s Art Prize and hear the powerful stories behind each artwork,” he said.
“These artworks tell the story of who we are and where we've come from, and they inspire our imagination as we continue shaping a bold, creative future for our City.
This year’s winner, Blair Garland, said the work was part of a long-term exploration of her lived experience.
“Throughout the last five years I have been creating a series of artworks exploring my life as a menopausal woman, reflecting on 38 years of fertility coming to an end,” said Garland.
Second place was awarded to Michelle Spencer for Where Did She Go? (2025), and Rachel South took out third place for Basilea (2024).
For more information visit Moreton Bay Art Prize 2025 - Moreton Bay Galleries & Museums.
Media Contact: news@moretonbay.qld.gov.au or 3480 6282