Gaypalani Waṉambi Wins 2026 Wynne Prize for Etching on Metal

Gaypalani Waṉambi, an artist from the Yolŋu community, has been awarded the 2026 Wynne Prize along with a $50,000 prize for her metal etching titled The Waṉambi tree. This artwork represents Wuyal, a significant ancestor of the Marrakulu clan. Out of 773 submissions, her piece was chosen as one of 52 finalists showcased at the Art Gallery. As a newcomer to the Wynne competition, Waṉambi’s expansive double-sided creation illustrates the songlines of the Marrakulu clan and the ancestral honey hunter, Wuyal, featuring detailed representations of the life cycles of bees, honey, and stringybark blossoms from her Northern Territory homeland. Upon receiving the award, she reflected on her late father, a talented artist who influenced her work.