Akie Haga Wins People's Choice at Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize
Akie Haga, an artist from the Australian Capital Territory originally from Japan, has been awarded the $5,000 People's Choice Award in the 2026 Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize, securing over 10 percent of the more than 2,000 votes submitted. Her acclaimed piece, Soft Echo, is a flameworked borosilicate glass sculpture that showcases translucent flowers and branching forms, drawing inspiration from flannel flowers while delving into concepts of belonging, memory, and renewal. The South Australian Museum organizes this prize. Additionally, Deb McKay received the $30,000 Open category award for her work, The Ghosts of our Coastal Water, while Kat Parker won $10,000 in the Emerging Artist category for Discarded (Christmas Island Pipistrelle). The exhibition takes place at the South Australian Museum.
Key facts
- Akie Haga won the People's Choice Award in the 2026 Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize.
- The award is worth $5,000.
- Haga's work Soft Echo is a flameworked borosilicate glass sculpture.
- The sculpture is inspired by flannel flowers and addresses belonging, memory, and renewal.
- Deb McKay won the $30,000 Open category for The Ghosts of our Coastal Water.
- Kat Parker won the $10,000 Emerging Artist category for Discarded (Christmas Island Pipistrelle).
- The prize is organized by the South Australian Museum.
- Haga is Japanese-born and based in the Australian Capital Territory.
Entities
Artists
- Akie Haga
- Deb McKay
- Kat Parker
Institutions
Locations
- Australian Capital Territory
- South Australia