Luke Cornish Wins 2026 Gallipoli Art Prize with Gaza War Cemetery Response

Sydney stencil artist Luke Cornish, also known as ELK, has secured the $20,000 acquisitive 2026 Gallipoli Art Prize for his work 'No Rest (The Vandalism of Deir al-Balah)'. The piece responds to the Israeli Defence Force's desecration of the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Deir al-Balah, Gaza. Cornish created the artwork on board, using acrylic cement to mimic sandstone headstones, with black dripping paint evoking graffiti and vandalism. In his statement, Cornish emphasized that damaging a war cemetery violates memory and disturbs the living, showing that death offers no refuge from violence. Judge Elizabeth Fortescue described it as an impressive yet stark reminder of historical sacrifices and the perpetual duty to honor them. This marks Cornish's second win, following his 2024 victory for 'The Pity of War', a contemporary take on Michelangelo's 'La Pieta'. The 2026 exhibition runs until 10 May 2026 at 6–8 Atherden Street, The Rocks, Sydney. Highly Commended entries include Jon Potter's '1917', a tribute to Australian painter Evelyn Chapman, and Peter Whitehead's 'Perennial Vigilance', mixed media plein air drawings of historic fortifications at Georges Head, Sydney. The prize is privately funded by the Gallipoli Memorial Club in Sydney and invites artists to explore themes like loyalty, courage, and peace from the club's creed.