Wow! What an epic way to celebrate our 20th anniversary. We are still buzzing from a wonderful weekend of art and community.

Our heartfelt thanks goes out to all those who helped make this happen: artists, attendees, sponsors, friends, selectors, judges, show staff and venue staff.

10 thousand art enthusiasts came and showed us that art is still King, Queen and everything in between.

More than 1,600 artworks went to new homes and seven artists were rewarded with awards.

Image above: Pretty in Pink, in front of Joel Hart’s art

Wellington artist Richard Thurston won the $3,000 People’s Choice Award sponsored by Brendan Foot Supersite. From the thousands of votes cast over the weekend, it was a close call, but Richard’s contemplative and serene photographic print ‘Flamenco Sketches’ came out as the winner.

Brendan Foot Supersite are extending the People’s Choice Award component, but this time YOU could be the winner. Enter the draw for a fabulous weekend in Hawkes Bay with the use of a Hyundai IONIQ 6, accommodation and studio visits to four NZ Art Show artists. All you need to do is vote for your favourite People’s Choice Award finalist.

The other finalists are:

• Tied in Silver Linings, colour pencil drawing, by Jaymesh Master
• Midnight Pugilist Revisited, oil painting by Dean Proudfoot
• Abandoned Window Frames, photographic print by Cody Ellingham
• Jump Around, mixed media by Tony Harrington
• White Flamingo, photographic lightbox by roOm
• SLO43, oil painting by Nikki Corbishley
• Hoodwinked, etching by Ben Reid
• Rumble, oil painting by Sam O’Malley
• Fan Collaboration 4, mixed media including feathers by Leonie Sharp