Willoughby City Council has announced the winners of the 2025 Connect, Collaborate, Celebrate Art Competition, unveiled following an official awards ceremony held at the Dougherty Community Centre as part of Social Inclusion Week and the International Day of People with Disability.
Now in its seventh year, the competition continues to shine a spotlight on the talent and creativity of artists living with disability, experiencing social isolation or at risk of marginalisation, with 48 entries received from across Northern Sydney this year.
This year’s guest judge was Julia Norton, an American-born artist and former New York fashion designer. After moving to Sydney in 2012, Julia began taking painting classes at the Willoughby Arts Centre and the National Art School while raising her three children.
Her most recent solo exhibition, Echoes of Laughter, held at The Art Space Gallery – The Concourse, explored the complex emotional landscape of parenting her children with neurodiversity and disability, including her son Jack, now 18, who has recently moved into supported independent living.
Julia shared that selecting the winners was “extremely difficult, as the level of creativity and personal expression was incredibly high.”
Mayor, Tanya Taylor, congratulated all participating artists and emphasised the importance of the event.
“This exhibition celebrates the creativity and courage of artists in our community,” she said.
“It provides a meaningful platform for people of all abilities to share their stories, express themselves and be recognised. We are incredibly proud to support an initiative that promotes inclusion and empowers individuals through art.”
The 2025 Award Winners are:
Winner
Sean Yang – In Celebrating Togetherness
Prize: $750 prepaid card and a solo exhibition at Dougherty Blend Café Art Space in 2026
Highly Commended Awards
Each artist received a $125 prepaid card.
Bart Klompe – Connections to Earth
Ruby Shimmers – …Oh! Sparkle – Struck. W
Commended Awards
Giuseppe Vuoso – Statue of Freedom
Nicky Lett – Together We Grow
Chris Kendall – Buttons and Bows
Rowena Curtin – Odd Socks’ Day Out
Ohsha (Jeonga) Oh – Happy Birthday to Me (The Gift I Never Asked For)
Clare Hooper – My Artist Colour
The exhibition is open to the public until 12 December at the Dougherty Community Centre.
For more information about the Connect, Collaborate, Celebrate Art Competition, please visit https://www.willoughby.nsw.gov.au/Events/Connect-Collaborate-Celebrate-Art-exhibition-2025.
