Jane Theau Wins Inaugural $10,000 Paddo Sculpture Prize for Woven Horsehair Work

Jane Theau has received the first-ever Paddo Sculpture Prize, a $10,000 award for a free-standing sculpture that draws inspiration from Australia’s natural scenery. Her artwork, titled Charred, 2026, is made from woven horsehair, measuring 20 × 25 × 35cm, and is part of a series that contemplates the rising number of wildfires due to climate change. Theau chose horsehair for its tactile nature and organic roots. This series emerged after the devastating bushfires of 2019/20, with similar incidents happening in later years, which Theau sees as a concerning global issue. Eugenie Kawabata won $3,000 for her piece Botanica Exotica: Takayna #5, 2025. Nathan Nhan got $1,000 for Trophy #85 Obsession, 2026, while Shaunagh Ashby received the Eramboo Residency Award. Stephanie Hart took home the Packer's Pick prize. The Paddington Art Prize will run from October 16 to 25, 2026, in Sydney, with an Art Panel Talk on Saturday, October 24, from noon to 1pm, featuring Julie Nicholson and the 2026 winners.