Winners in the inaugural Southern Queensland Landscapes First Nations Art Competition have been announced to a crowd of more than 100 people at the University of Southern Queensland’s new Art Gallery. 

Overall Grand Prize and 25+ Years Category winner has gone to Melinda Luscombe for her piece ‘Lemon Myrtle Bloom’.   

“This piece is very personal to me and has been an emotional journey to create,” Melinda Luscombe said. 

“The large circles represent the lineage of the Gomeroi women in our family.  My great grandmother, my grandmother and myself,” Ms Luscombe said. 

“The tracks between these circles represent the connection we will always share and also branch out to other possibilities and the unknown.  Nature has always been important to our family and I have included lemon myrtle blossoms, as I have been told my great grandmother used to wrap fish with the leaves when cooking.” she said. 

SQ Landscapes Board Chair, The Hon Bruce Scott AM discusses Artist Lane Brooks piece 'Healing of the Bungil' with Judge Uncle Colin Jones

Category awards also went to Uncle Andrew Nelson for ‘Yumba Life’ and Tareque Chapman for ‘Crosshatch Fish’; meanwhile Highly Commended was David McCarthy for ‘Heal Country’, Isabel Natividad for ‘Guyumba’ and Bill Speedy for ‘Wildflowers on Gwamu Country’. 

SQ Landscapes Board Chair, The Hon Bruce Scott AM said it was an amazing night celebrating the incredible talent of Aboriginal artists from right throughout Southern Queensland. 

"More than 12 months of planning has gone into this evening’s event and it’s just truly a wonderful thing to see these amazing artists recognized for their talent, which as you can see is of international standard,” Bruce Scott said. 

“Southern Queensland Landscapes works closely with the 28 First Nations in our catchment and all of the artists showcased here tonight both winners and finalists call this Country home,” Mr Scott said. 

“As an organisation we are thrilled to have been able to work with these artists to develop a competition to foster their talent and other artists like them into the future and provide a platform whereby together we can showcase their art and talents to the world,” he said. 

“To everyone involved in the competition and tonight’s event including our friends at the University of Southern Queensland who have so generously supported the competition, and the judges, Aboriginal artist Uncle Colin Jones, Owner of Murray’s Art and Framing Sue McMaster, and Chair of SQ Landscapes First People’s Committee Chris Joseph, I just want to say congratulations and how much we value and respect your contributions; it truly has been a special evening.” 

Artist Bill Speedy with his painting 'Wildflowers On Gwamu Country'; Uncle Andrew Nelson speaking to

ABC Journalist Belinda Sanders in front of his piece 'Yumba Life' ;and Jarryd Lawton pictured with his artwork 'Heal The Country'.

Meanwhile, University of Southern Queensland Curator (Arts and Exhibitions), Brodie Taylor said it was an honour to host the collection. 

“This extraordinary exhibition, made possible by the vision of Southern Queensland Landscapes, provides this collective of First Nations artists with an opportunity, previously unseen in our region,” Brodie Taylor said. 

“With their artistic voices enhanced, and on display for all in our community, this exhibition marks a seminal moment of celebration for our First Nation artists,” Mr Taylor said. 

Artwork from finalists in the 2021/22 First National Art Competition will be on display at the University of Southern Queensland Art Gallery from 8 July to 2 September 2022, Tuesday to Friday from 10am - 3pm. 

Some of the art on display is for sale and all enquiries regarding purchases should be emailed to art@sqlandscapes.org.au

So far two artworks have already been sold including "Storm Over the Downs" and "Lemon Myrtle Bloom".

Expressions of Interest are now being accepted from Aboriginal artists identifying as one of the 28 First Nations in the Southern Queensland catchment, for the 2022/23 First Nations Art Competition. 

The theme of the 2022/23 competition is Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!  For more details on the 22/23 competition click APPLY NOW 

SQ Landscapes is an independent non-government-organisation (NGO) owned by its community, and is dedicated to helping landholders understand their landscapes, adapt to challenges and be excellent stewards of their country.   

SQ Landscapes acknowledge, respect and learn from the First Peoples of the 28 Nations in the Southern Queensland Landscapes area and further afield.  We pay respect to the Elders: past, present and future for they hold the memories, traditions, culture, science and knowledge and hope of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples across our nation.