A new national art award celebrating the animals in our lives.
Best in Show Art Award is an artist-led initiative founded by New Zealand painter Julia Holden. Developing from a series of exhibitions, it is evolving towards a national platform celebrating contemporary painting and our enduring connections with animals.
The project brings together art, community and our shared love of animals, creating opportunities for public participation and creative collaboration.
The Vision
Best in Show Art Award aims to:
Celebrate painting — championing contemporary portraiture and the artists who bring animals to life on canvas.
Connect people and animals — recognising the companionship, character and profound relationships that animals bring to our lives.
Invite public participation — creating an accessible, engaging art award in which the public has a voice in deciding the winners.
Build creative collaborations — bringing artists, galleries, animal organisations, cultural institutions and ethical businesses together around a shared idea.
Make a difference — each edition of Best in Show supports an animal welfare charity, alongside celebrating the animals in our lives through art.
Best in Show Art Award 2027
The next stage is to develop Best in Show Art Award into a national call-out for painters throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
The BESTIES. The award features five categories: Best Pup, Best Puss, Best Pet, Best Worst Pest and the overall Best in Show. Five artists serve as selectors and judges across the categories. The public will also have the opportunity to vote for the People’s Choice Award.
Winning works will receive specially created rosettes and significant cash prizes.
An Invitation
There is much to build, and I welcome conversations with people who would like to be involved in bringing Best in Show Art Award to life.
Whether you're interested in creative collaboration, sponsorship, partnership or simply exploring an idea, I'd love to hear from you.