CELEBRATING SCULPTURE FROM AOTEAROA: $25,000

Applications for the 2026 awards open September 1 2025. If you would like to receive reminder notifications about the R.T Nelson Awards for Sculpture, please email us at awards@artshow.co.nz and we’ll add you to our mailing list.

Image: Awards Founder, Richard T. Nelson


About the awards

These prestigious awards highlight the diversity of small-scale works so that art lovers can enjoy sculpture within their homes and are open to all New Zealand sculptors. They offer a rare opportunity for sculptors to demonstrate their talent and be recognised for their artistic vision.

The award-winning NZ Art Show is proud to host the finalists, May 28 to May 31, 2026, held in Shed 6 entry via the adjoined TSB Arena, where the winners will be announced and all the artworks will be for sale.

INFORMATION FOR ARTISTS

PRIZE POOL OF $25,000

  • 1 x Premier Award – $15,000
  • 2 x Highly Commended – $1,000
  • 1 x People’s Choice – $2,000

APPLICATION

  • There is no application fee
  • Applications are open from September 1 to October 31 2025
  • Finalists will be notified on November 11 2025

WHO CAN APPLY

  • Open to all New Zealand sculptors — part-time, full-time, emerging, mid-career, or established
  • You must be a living NZ citizen or permanent resident
  • Sculptors who create small-scale works suitable for homes
  • Artists committed to innovation and excellence in sculpture

SCULPTURE REQUIREMENTS

  • Must be original, not copied
  • The Sculptures may already exist (made within the last 12 months) or you can create something new
  • Must be available for sale with a price limit of $10,000 NZD
  • Plinth based must fit on a 400mm x 400mm plinth (or supply your own)
  • If wall hung, must fit within a 1m x 1m space

FINALISTS

  • Up to 30 finalists will be selected to take place in the final exhibition where the judging will take place in person
  • Sculptures are required to be delivered on May 25 2026, and unsold collected on May 31 (courier options also available)
  • The Final exhibtion will take place in Shed 6, Wellington (adjoined to the TSB Arena – as part of the NZ Art Show)
  • All finalists will be provided tickets to the award announcment ceremony – May 28th 2026
  • Exhibition open to the public from May 28th to May 31st 2026

GETTING READY FOR YOUR APPLICATION

  • Prepare images of your work you want the judges to view – either the existing work or examples or previous works
  • Your artist statement or bio

Awards Founder

Richard T. Nelson is an avid art collector and philanthropist. Originally from the USA, Richard has called Wellington, NZ home for past 25 years

Richard’s love of sculpture started more than 50 years ago upon visiting a small gallery in Haiti. There he came across some beautiful works by a Haitian sculptor, Ludovic Booz. He purchased 3 elegant mahogany sculptures that he admires and appreciates to this day.

Degrees from Yale and Stanford Universities followed by a successful career in Investments has enabled Richard to pursue his love of art.

His collection holds contemporary pieces from around the world including Europe, the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Haiti, Japan and Africa. His sculpture collection includes a considerable selection of smaller works, providing the inspiration for this award.

Richard appreciates the elegance and grace of sculpture, and wishes to reward technique and true craftsmanship through this award which he instigated in 2021.