
2025 Unearthed Art Prize
2025 Finalists

Announcing our Winners!
Congratulations to our 2025 Unearthed Art Prize Winner REBECCA KOERTING, as well as our People's Choice Winner CLAIRE WEAVER and our Framers Choice Winner SARAH ELLIS-STEINBORNER
A big round of applause for all our 26 incredible finalists; who created stunning works with styles, themes, genres and techniques that capture the breadth and range of new talent.
Check out all the works and read about the artists and their inspirations for each entry below. Many of these amazing works are still available for sale, so consider collecting a rising star today!
Shop the Finalists
Get to know our Finalist Entries

'This Could be Love' by Abbie White
Acrylic on raw canvas - Available
Abbie's paintings emerge as personal reflections on the chaos of life, each piece capturing moments of her journey like pages in a diary. Using raw canvas and non-traditional tools, she creates dreamy, colourful abstracts that embrace movement and unpredictability.
Since her initial gallery debut in 2022, Abbie has exhibited in over 20 group shows. She was a finalist in Toowoomba gallery TNBT 2024 and the Revival Art and Design Emerging art prize 2024. Following her first solo show RAW in 2024, Abbie is expecting her second self-represented exhibition Love opening in February.
Inspired by real landmarks, 'This Could be Love' is not bound by specific places but is intended to evoke feelings of connection, tranquility, and presence.

'Not Waiting On Sunrise To Come Again' by Ben Randall
Oil on canvas - SOLD
Ben Randall, a passionate art-lover with a professional background in fine art and graphic design, embracing the challenges of abstract expressions. He welcomes the discomfort of artistic exploration, regarding it as a creative force that pushes the boundaries between the reality and his imaginary world.
Inspired by The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, “Not Waiting On Sunrise To Come Again' illustrates a self-exploratory journey of following one's dream and embracing all the unexpected encounters. Through this piece, Ben encourages audiences to trust their inner voices, acknowledging that the beauty of the journey itself is just as important as its perceived destination. He advocates for the pursuit of dreams, regardless of any physical or mental constraints.

'Hi Handsome' by Brenda Willis
Acrylic on canvas - SOLD
Based in Sydney, Brenda Willis is a multidisciplinary artist passionate about exploring a wide array of media, from intimate watercolours, minimal sketches, to bold acrylic canvases, each reflecting her deep love for flora, fauna, and the human figure. Brenda's works aim to connect with people on a personal level while celebrating the beauty and strength of the natural world and making creativity accessible to all.
Sparked by the backyard Magpie — present visitors in Brenda's yard, known for their musical calls and bold personalities, she seeks to convey a sense of connection these birds evoke—familiar, comforting, and profoundly tied to home.Through her nostalgic storytelling, Brenda utilises creative expressions to invite viewers to rediscover the wonder and joyfulness in the world around them.

'On Our Way' by Bridget Steer
Acrylic and house paint on canvas - SOLD
Bridget Steer is a self-taught artist with a deep curiosity for diverse media and materiality. She particularly appreciates the flexibility and versatility of acrylic and house paint, which effortlessly integrating into her home-life and other work. The themes in her artworks often reflect the duality of her past experience as a GP. Through the depiction of everyday objects and spaces, she creates pieces to evoke big concepts and relationships.
'On Our Way' invites multiple interpretations — it could be the start of an epic journey with three legendary creatures or the placement of three toy dinosaurs by a 7-year-old upon a cushion, both signifying the sneaky-special moments that make up lives together. Notably, Bridget sees art as an extension of genuine human connection. In keeping with her belief, partial profits generated from this artwork will be donated to charity.

'An Ordinary Moment' by Brooke Whelan
Acrylic on canvas - Available
Based in Beechworth, Victoria, emerging artist Brooke Whelan brings her vibrant portfolio in graphic design, floristry, and education to her practice. Through her artworks, she celebrates the quiet charm of the familiar, explores themes of memory, identity, and the interplay of colour and light .
Brooke often draws inspiration from rural and domestic spaces, with a particular focus on post-war and mid century architecture, capturing the beauty of the everyday spaces and creating pieces that evokes warmth and nostalgia.
'An Ordinary Moment' illustrates the serene beauty of Australian post-war architecture, embodying themes of memory and familiarity, and connections to every day life.

'Peaceful Hills' by Caz Mackenzie
Acrylic on canvas - Available
Caz Mackenzie is a self-taught painter based in Orange, NSW. Drawing inspiration from the rolling hills, expansive skies, and rural vistas of her hometown and its surroundings, her artistic expressions are shaped by the scenic country drives with her family and nostalgic reflections on childhood memories. Caz has crafted her one-of-a-kind, vibrant contemporary landscapes to offer viewers a visual experience that is both uncomplicated and evocative, inviting them to connect with their personal emotions, recollections, and imagination.
Building a connection between land and people, 'Peaceful Hills' captures the hills surrounding Caz's hometown, brought to life through her signature, richly saturated colour palette.

'Nectarine Nostalgia' by Claire Weaver
Acrylic on canvas - Available
A multi-disciplinary visual artist who currently resides in Naarm/Melbourne, Claire Weaver's creative vision is fostered by her professional background in Environmental Management and unique experiences living and working abroad. It was only in the recent years that Claire has refocused on her artistic practice, dedicating time to art as a therapeutic and healing journey.
Claire's work celebrated and captures the beauty of nature, everyday scenes, and the simple things in life, blending a diverse range of media, including oil pastels, acrylics, oils, and watercolours. Informed by the love of the environment with her natural inclination to pause to appreciate surroundings, Claire showcases the essence of summer memories, cherishing quality time spending with family and friends and evoking the spirit of the season through this particular work of art.
- Available

'Foliage by the Window' by Florence Wang
Oil on canvas - Available
Creating locally in Naarm/Melbourne, Florence Wang has demonstrated a lifelong enthusiasm for art. Aside from her full-time profession in Computer Science, Florence has cultivated her distinct artistic vocabulary as a dedicated visual artist who focuses on unravelling complex information, translating it into tangible representations through storytelling.
Within her painting practice, she is particularly drawn to the symbolic connotations embedded in her subjects, which often reflect visual elements from her memories, surroundings, or the narratives of those she is familiar with. Rendering the interplay of light and colour and the tranquil effect induced by sunlight streaming through the window, this piece curates a scene from a local café she frequents. It reflects the passage of time, the singular, non-static experiences that breathe endless possibilities to life.

'Study in yellow' by Giulianna del Popolo
Acrylic on canvas - Available
Giulianna is a Melbourne-based Artist and interior designer who loves to beautify her surroundings with art and décor. Inspired by big nature and small, her work captures fleeting moments in life. A homebody at heart, she works with various media—from technical drawing to soft pastels and watercolour paints, capturing visuality and mood, with art serving as her way of tracing time.
Having a background in interior design and teaching technical drawings at RMIT, Giulianna is inspired by the interiors of the Fauves, particularly the works of Pierre Bonnard and Henri Matisse, whose emphasis on colour over exactness resonates deeply with her. 'Study in Yellow' serves both an elegant home study and an exploration of the main primary, cadmium yellow and how it is brought to life with its complementary violet and neighbouring primary, cobalt blue. It aims to convey the vibrancy and energy of a pleasant interior on a clear, sunny day.

'Second Act' by Heidi Maunder
Acrylic and oil stick on canvas - SOLD
Growing up in Western Australia and enriched by extensive travel experience worldwide and a career in HR, Heidi Beth Maunder—a proud mother of two rediscovered her artistic voices through landscape paintings. Heidi's creative endeavour has been greatly embraced by the local art community.
Inspired by the Australian artist Missy Higgins, 'Second Act' symbolises a new beginning in 2025 and Heidi's second act career as an artist. The painting illustrates an ethereal sky, a gently flowing stream, and a veil of sunlight, all of which embody future hopes.

'13 White Street' by Jane Brennan
Acrylic on canvas - Available
As a high school Visual Arts teacher for 16 years, Jane Brennan has dedicated much of her creative energy to nurturing her students’ artistic journeys. While fostering young talents has often taken centre stage, she has always enjoyed painting, drawing, and experimenting with ceramics, drawing inspiration in the world around her.
Jane's artistic curiosity is substantially inspired by colour, fashion, and design—particularly bags and shoes, while her reflection on diverse landscapes and communities has profoundly shaped her artistic voice and reinforced her love for creativity in all its forms.
'13 White Street' portrays Jane's grandparents’ home in Bathurst, NSW—a place deeply rooted in her family and memory. By capturing the special time with a space that holds not merely literal significance but also the essence of people who filled it with love, laughter, and shared history, Jane seeks to resonate and forge a deep emotional connection with her audience.

'These Boots are Made for Walking' by Jen White
Acrylic on canvas - Available
A lifelong creative at heart, Jen White finds painting to be her most cherished form of artistic expression. Recently retired from her role as a colour consultant, Jen created this piece as a sideline to her intense role as a Paralegal. For Jen, art serves as both a deeply personal medium for preserving treasured memories and a shared experience imbued with a sense of intricate magic.
Jen seizes every opportunity to attend art lessons and workshops, feeding her love of learning and connecting with a like-minded artsy community. Featured in several local and district art shows, Jen's creative vision has earned recognition and admiration from art enthusiasts.
Being a hat girl who falls in love with western-style hats, she started this piece knowing she wanted some moody colour and to celebrate a wholesome country lifestyle.

'Monday Morning Tea Time' by Jess King
Oil on canvas - SOLD
A lover of the bush, the sea, literature, art and a perfectly brewed cup of tea, Jess King is a freelance graphic designer based in Brisbane. Immersed herself in creativity production both digitally and physically, she navigates seamlessly the two worlds of design and fine art, ensuring panting remains a significant part of her language.
While Jess is naturally fond of taking nature as her primary subject, it is only recent years that she has begun incorporating still life elements and everyday household objects purchased from op shops into her bush paintings. Captivated by the buttery texture on the canvas archived through the dynamic brushwork, Jess has gradually transitioned from acrylics to an in-depth exploration of oil as her preferred medium.
'Monday Morning Tea Time' celebrates the simplest pleasure of life, weaving together some of Jess's favourite things — reading while sipping a delicious cup of lemon tea with the beauty of nature within reach.

'Red Sensation' by Karen Nield
Oil on canvas - Available
Karen Nield has always been a passionate artist. After working in the health industry for 25 years and exploring preliminarily through short art courses, she took a brave turn to commence full-time art study and completed her Diploma of Visual Art in 2017 at the C.A.E in Melbourne, specialising oil painting and printmaking. Alongside her practices, she shares her expertise as an art tutor in community houses, teaching all mediums including oil, acrylic, watercolour, and drawing. Her artistic interest extend beyond painting to relief printmaking, including every form from the simplest block designs to more complex mixed-media compositions.
As an artist, Karen believes that inspiration is lied everywhere in daily life, and there is no need to go beyond the garden or kitchen to locate themes or subjects for creation. The vibrant hues and explosive forms of native flora constantly demands her attention, fuelling her experimentations with diverse colours, expressive brushworks, and innovative textured finishes, further granting her the gift to capture the sensational pleasure brought to life by the nature. Moreover, her love of cooking also informs her still life works, evoking the pleasure and warmth of culinary traditions and sensory delight of food.

'Untamed Blossoms' by Kerrie Jacobs
Textured acrylic on canvas - Available
A creative arts practitioner, Kerrie Jacobs has been a multidisciplinary artist who champions diverse artistic expressions. Through her practice, she has explored a wide range of experimental media, including alcohol inks and resin, relentlessly evolving her creative voice. During the global pandemic, Kerrie studied creative arts therapy and worked with NDIS clients to fully utilise the transformative power of art as a form of relaxation and destress.
While being captivated a mixed combination of media, Kerrie finds her most harmonious synergy with acrylics, drawn to their vibrant and flexible nature and textural potential. Her current body of work focuses on capturing small moments from everyday life using highly saturated colours. With a keen interest of abstraction, her art is stemmed from the movement, guided by intuition and realised in simplicity.
'Untamed Blossoms' evokes the raw and uninhibited beauty of nature, where wildflowers grow freely in a tangled, colourful frenzy! Bursts of vibrant petals in chaotic layers and textured brushstrokes add a sense of movement and energy that feels alive and untamed. The inspiration behind this piece is her partner's wild gardens at his Healesville's property, and it is also the studio where it is nested.

'Knock off Time' by Leonie McIntosh
Oil on canvas - SOLD
Art has always been an indispensable part of Leonie McIntosh's life since her teenage years when she was initially introduced to the allure of oil painting around fourteen through weekend art classes. Among all artistic forms, she has always gravitated towards painting realistically, as she finds the process is extremely meditative and relaxing. While Realism remains undeniably Leonie's favourite creative vocabulary, she has recently begun experimenting with a playful touch of pop style, often featuring objects of disproportionate size and unusual quirks. She delights in incorporating a twist of the expected, and always infuses her work with a sense of whimsy and play in the ideas. As someone of the Generation X, she embraces a little nostalgia, weaving subtle references that spark a warm, familiar childhood feel-good emotional connection, bringing the paintings to life.
Ahh, the 5pm knockoff...there's nothing like the call of the afternoon beverage to take the edge off the day. 'Knock off Time' is a minimal, mono-tone piece with the vibrant pop of colour that attracts the thirsty workers attention. It is the idea that the alcohol attracts attention from not only careful advertising, but it is such a big part of many of our lives, it is very hard to ignore. Leonie's pop realistic depiction captures the light hearted side of life and brings a sense of humour to the audience through her bold and fun approach.

'Citrus Scape' by Lynda McKay
Oil on polycotton - SOLD
Based in Sydney, Lynda McKay is an oil painter who specialises in still life, fascinated by the beauty of daily objects. Through her hyper-realistic approach, she transcends the ordinary into the extraordinary, elevating items that frequent everyday life beyond their denotations. With a keen eye for simplicity and composition, Lynda endeavours to realise her artistic vision through a delicate interplay of light, shadow, and form.
As a lifelong devotee of fine art and art history, Lynda spends as much time as possible pursing her love of painting and drawing. Her current style extends from her past studies in botanical painting, incorporating continuous refinement. Being a self-driven creative individual, she never stops taking classes throughout her life and constantly exploring various art disciplines, such as watercolour, acrylics and oils. Her works has been proudly shown at the Affordable Art Fairs and multiple group art exhibitions.
'Citrus Scape' is an exploration of simple shapes, colour harmony and light and shade while focusing on minimalistic composition.

'Enlightenment' by Philippa Storey
Oil on canvas - SOLD
Philippa Storey is a talented artist originally from Canada who has found her creative home in Australia. Starting as a singer/songwriter, she transitioned to visual arts in 2019, finding a passion for travel sketching and painting with acrylics, oils, and watercolours. Despite having no formal art training until 2023, Philippa honed her skills through short courses and workshops with esteemed artists. In 2023, she started taking lessons at North Shore School of Art and her artistic expressions changed and improved dramatically.
Philippa`s artistic style is characterized by her love for seascapes, capturing the beauty and tranquility of the ocean in vibrant colors and fluid brushstrokes. Her works evoke a sense of peace and serenity, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the calming allure of the sea.
'Enlightenment' is a stunning oil painting that captures the magical moment of sunrise at sea; it is a meditation on the power of nature to inspire awe and wonder in the human soul. It is a reminder of the importance of taking a moment to pause and appreciate the beauty and majesty of the world around us, to find peace and enlightenment in the simple act of witnessing a breathtaking sunrise over the ocean.

'Pieces Of Us' by Rebecca Koerting
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas - SOLD
From her home studio in Perth, Rebecca Koerting creates works that come alive in their imperfection—beautiful, authentic, and full of life. After years as an art director for a lifestyle and interiors magazine, Rebecca reconnected herself with her creative core through contemporary abstract expressions that reflect her life journey: bold, unrestrained, and rooted in personal connection to the world around her.
Through bold, dynamic forms and vibrant colours, her works evoke emotional connections. Natural linen often serves as the raw backdrop for these colourful abstractions, allowing the textures to play a vial role. Rebecca's artistic approaches offer her the greatest freedom to explore and express, simultaneously balancing spontaneity and intention, inviting viewers to discover their own stories within the interplay of light and shapes.
'Pieces of Us' explores the beauty of connection and individuality within relationships. The vibrant pinks and soft, flowing shapes symbolise warmth and intimacy, while the contrast against raw natural linen reflects the balance between unity and personal identity. It celebrates how the pieces of our lives and relationships come together to create something imperfect yet beautifully whole.

'Outlook onto the Backstairs Passage' by Sarah Ellis-steinborner
Acrylic on canvas - Available
For Sarah Ellis-steinborner, a South Australian artist whose life is closely intertwined with family, teaching, and painting, art does not merely play a vital role in her daily practice but also serves as an important tool for resilience and mental health.
Sarah's body of work draws inspirations from the dynamic natural landscapes that envelop her. Through contemporary abstract techniques, primarily in acrylics and oils, she crafts vibrant, textured works that capture the essence of the Australian natural environment.
'Outlook onto the Backstairs Passage' depicts the very moment when the first light of day tenderly emerges, revealing glimpses of Kangaroo Island as it quietly unfolds across the landscape. Sarah employs a vividly saturated colour palette and bold brushworks, inviting her audiences to immerse in the incredible raw energy of the land.

'Fruit Bowl' by Sharon Hunjas
Acrylic on canvas - Available
Spending a significant portion of her career immersed in the world of architectural antiques, Sharon Hunjas initiated her creative journey from vintage objects—old beach shacks, workers cottages, and things rich with imperfections often catch her eyes and ignite her imagination. While having captivated a profound appreciation in various artistic disciplines, including photography, illustration, and digital art, painting remains Sharon's favourite creative outlet. With a Diploma of Visual arts and the recent completion of her first trimester at the Queensland College of Art, where she majors in painting for a Bachelor of Visual Arts degree, Sharon dedicates herself to the process of painting, repainting, experimenting, making mistakes, loving the mistakes, and ultimately, learning from them.
Playfully manifesting her obsession with subjects like palm trees, pineapples and pears, 'Fruit Bowl' perfectly blends all feeling-good elements of a perfect summer. This piece communicates a sense of tranquility and refreshment, bringing the viewers the simple beauty of life.

'Where Time Heals' by Sharon Rynehart
Acrylic on canvas - SOLD
Based in the leafy outskirts of Canberra, Sharon Rynehart is an impressionist palette knife artist who embraces painting as a therapeutic sanctuary which allows her to navigate the complexities of adversity, loss, grief, and trauma with expressive strokes and rich textures. Her artworks serve as reminders for people to always seek light and hope, regardless of the challenges they face.
Drawing from her deep appreciation for Australian natural scenery, Sharon finds inspiration in coastal landscapes, where refracted light dances through moody clouds and ocean waves, lush headlands meet breezy shorelines, and wnding roads traverse rolling hills and tranquil valleys. Adoring the concept of 'heartwork,' she harnesses the colour harmonies, creating beautiful and emotive pieces from the heart, inviting audiences to reflect, recall, and remember, and to interpret with their own narratives. Her work fosters relatability, resonance, and ultimately, evoking hopes.
'Where Time Heals' depicts a quiet moment beneath moody grey skies along the rugged coastlines, when healing and restoration begin.

'Easy Afternoon' by Stephanie Perrins
Mixed media on canvas - Available
Originally from Melbourne, Stephanie Perrins is a Perth-based artist for whom creativity is an integral part of life. With a professional background in Graphic Design, she has profound experiences working with some incredible brands, crafting digital designs and photography. However, her return to fine art stemmed from a deeply personal journey—following a miscarriage, art became a way for her to process grief and find healing.
Through her work, Stephanie captures the wild, textural energy of the natural world, celebrating its resilience, vibrancy, and vitality. Her art is considered as both the reflection of beauty perceived in nature and her desire to inspire joy and evoke connection in those who experience it.
"Easy Afternoon" is inspired by the soft, golden light filtering through green leaves—perhaps in a garden, or maybe a tranquil orchard. There’s a creek bubbling nearby, or is it the gentle hum of summer cicadas? It’s a place where time seems to stand still, marked only by the slow descent of the sun below the horizon.

''The Sun Will Always Shine'' by Tessa Marie Bartholomew
Acrylic on canvas - Available
Tessa Marie Bartholomew is a painter and muralist specialising in abstract landscapes that invite connection, emotion, and interpretation. After years in the corporate events industry, Tessa follows her intuitive artistic calling, seeking to infuse the world with a little more art, colour, and meaning—one brushstroke at a time. Her work often incorporates trees as symbols of people, exploring themes of home, familiarity, and individuality. Whether painting on canvas or transforming large-scale walls, she strives to create a sense of place and belonging through colour, texture, and movement.
"The Sun Will Always Shine" is a reflection on hope, resilience, and the promise of new beginnings. Tessa has painted this composition in various configurations, always drawn to the sweeping shadows, which almost become the focal point—stretching, shifting, and anchoring the piece in contrast to the warm light beyond.
This work is also a reminder that even on the most average or difficult days, tomorrow brings a fresh start. No matter how long the shadows may seem, the sun will always rise again, casting its warmth and light over everything. It’s a celebration of optimism, of knowing that brighter days are always ahead.

'Italian Espresso Coffee Pot' by Tina Bennett
Oil on canvas - SOLD
With roots in country Victoria, Tina Bennett has spent most of her life living and working in Melbourne and the Geelong area. Although she pursued a degree in Art and Design with a focus on Fine Art, it wasn’t until her children grew up that Tina found her way back to painting, delving deeper into the captivating world of still life. She finds immense joy in working with oil paints and thrives on arranging objects to narrate stories, evoke nostalgia, and breathe new life into overlooked treasures. The allure of blue and white china, a passion inherited from her mother, permeates her work. Exploring reflections in her artistic expression has become a captivating endeavour, adding depth and intrigue to her creations. Tina’s art journey is a never-ending adventure, full of exploration, learning, and a deep love for the beauty surrounding her.
As an enthusiastic coffee lover, Tina draws inspiration from the intricate reflections created by coffee pots. Fascinated by the way light dances on the polished surface of the coffee pot, creating patterns and reflections, she paints to capture the beauty and share her appreciation for both coffee and art.

'Melancholy' by Ujala Aftab
Embroidery on calico with acrylic ink and paint - Available
Originally from Pakistan, Ujala Aftab is a textile artist who has worked in the textile and fashion industry for six years prior to moving to Australila.
She has developed a unique embroidery technique of 'drawing' with thread. Using a single colour of thread, she manipulates its thickness to create tonal values that serve to create her expressive and emotional portraiture. Recently, she has begun incorporating small amounts of ink and paint into her pieces, giving greater depth and visual variety.
Ujala's works are inspired by her desire to capture expressions and communicate more than just words. She incorporates her own experiences of life into her pieces, and is currently in the process of documenting her migration to Australia, creating a series which includes all aspects and shares her journey authentically.

Greeting Cards 3 for $10
Take home a piece of these amazing works with our beautiful Unearthed 2025 Greeting Cards.
Each greeting card is beautifully printed on high quality card stock in Australia. Cards are blank inside, with the artist name and title on the back.
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