Curator and Judges
2026 Curator
Ron Nyisztor
Ron Nyisztor has been exhibiting since 1989. His paintings are held in numerous private and corporate collections and have also been awarded best in show and highly commended.
Nyisztor Studio ARI has been directed by Ron since 2006 and is committed to a program to showcase West Australian artists, metropolitan and regional, seeking to develop a wider audience and appreciation for the visual arts.
See more on his website.
2026 Selection Panel
Monique Tippett
Monique Tippett is a regional artist and curator based in Dwellingup, Western Australia. Initially trained as a fine furniture maker, she has dedicated the past 24 years to creating wood sculpture and 3D wall installations. Her practice is grounded in a deep connection to the natural environment surrounding her home, particularly the forest landscapes of southwest Western Australia. Through her work, Tippett explores scale, light, texture and beauty, while drawing attention to the fragility of these ecosystems and the increasing man-made threats they face.
An established and multi-award-winning Western Australian artist, Tippett maintains a prolific studio practice with an extensive portfolio of public and private works exhibited across Western Australia and internationally. Her work is held in significant collections including WA Parliament House, the Janet Holmes a Court Collection, Edith Cowan University, Perth Children’s Hospital, St John of God Hospital, and the WA State Collection (Premier’s Office), as well as local government collections including the City of Melville, City of Stirling, City of Armadale, and City of Mandurah.
In 2018, Tippett founded Lost Eden Creative, an artist-run initiative in Dwellingup that has supported over 400 artists and presented more than 50 group and solo exhibitions. She has curated over a dozen exhibitions in recent years and continues to mentor emerging artists through one-on-one support in her home studio. Lost Eden Creative has become a valued platform for contemporary art in Western Australia, connecting regional audiences with both urban and regional artists. Looking ahead, Tippett is developing plans to transform the backyard of Lost Eden Creative into a community-focused creative hub, expanding opportunities for workshops, gathering, making, and cultural exchange in the region.
In 2019, Tippett was the Western Australian Parliamentary Artist in Residence, culminating in a public art commission displayed in the foyer of WA Parliament House. In 2020, she was awarded the Western Australian Regional Artist Fellowship, supporting the development of four solo exhibitions including presentations at Edith Cowan University, Holmes a Court Gallery (West Perth), Lost Eden Creative (Dwellingup), and a major retrospective at Bunbury Regional Art Gallery. The retrospective surveyed works from 2009 to 2022 and was exhibited alongside works by the late Howard Taylor from the WA State Collection.
Tippett was also a leading artist in the inaugural Indian Ocean Craft Triennial (2021), and between 2019 and 2023 contributed as an artist, mentor, and curator to the Alternative Archive Project, which included exhibitions at Lost Eden Creative and John Curtin University Gallery. In June 2025, Tippett travelled to Japan to exhibit at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum as part of the International Exchange Exhibition, extending her ongoing commitment to international cultural dialogue.
Her residency experience includes The Banff Centre (Canada, 2016), Nocefresca (Sardinia, 2023), and Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop (Scotland, 2024). Monique Tippett continues to be a prominent figure in Western Australia’s contemporary art landscape, combining a sustained, environmentally engaged studio practice with long-term commitment to community building and creative leadership in regional WA.
James Walker
James Walker is a curator, artist and educator living in Mandurah Western Australia. His work has been featured in many solo and group exhibitions across Australia, and he has received numerous awards and accolades for his paintings.
From 2021-2024, James was the curator for the Alcoa Mandurah Art Gallery, where he programmed the exhibition schedules, and coordinated the very successful Mandurah 9×5 Art Prize.
James also provides workshops and lectures for emerging and established artists, and has been on the selection and judging panels for numerous art awards such as the Rockingham Art Prize, Collie Art Prize, Watercolour Society of Western Australia and Plein Air Down Under.
In his current role as Community Development Officer for Art Programs and Collections, James works directly to support and create opportunities for the arts community.
2025 Judges
Susanna Castleden
Susanna is an Associate Professor at Curtin University, where she serves as Director of the John Curtin Gallery. An accomplished artist, lecturer, writer, and HDR supervisor, she previously held the position of Dean of Research in the Faculty of Humanities.
Widely recognised for her dedication to developing and supporting others through various academic and community roles, Susanna brings extensive experience as both an academic and creative researcher. Her award-winning artwork is held in numerous public collections, and she maintains a strong track record of engagement across the creative industries and tertiary education sector. Susanna is a member of the Print Council of Australia and served as a Director on the Board of PICA for six years.
Alan Dodge AM
Alan Dodge has served in the art museum world for over 45 years. In 1972 Mr Dodge became a lecturer in the Education Department of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. In 1975 he was appointed the first Senior Research Officer of the fledgling Australian National Gallery (now National Gallery of Australia), where he stayed for 21 years. During that time, he held a number of positions, culminating in the role of Senior Advisor, Special Exhibitions and Development. In late 1996 Mr Dodge was appointed Director of the Art Gallery of Western Australia, a position he held for eleven years until the end of 2007, when he retired.
Alan is on the board of the West Australian Ballet. He has served for 15 years on the board of the National Portrait Gallery, has been a member of the Vice-Chancellor’s Strategic Advisory Board at Murdoch University and was Chairman of the Murdoch University Art Collection Board for 10 years and is now the Patron of the Murdoch University Art Collection’s 50 year campaign. Over the last three decades Alan has served on a number of boards and committees involved in strategies for the cultural future of Perth and WA. He was also on the Opera and Classical Music Panel of the Helpmann Awards for six years.
Alan was made a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, by the French Government in 2004, an Honorary Fellow by Edith Cowan University in 2007, and was recognised with an honour in the Order of Australia (AM) in 2008 for service to the arts. In 2011 he was named Western Australia Citizen of the Year, Culture, Arts and Entertainment, and made an Honorary Doctor of Letters by Murdoch University in 2012 and also an Honorary Doctor of Letters by Curtin University in 2018.