Modular Hot Pink Sculpture Wins $25,000 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize

Australian artist Mark Booth has won the 2026 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize. The win, announced today, coincides with the opening of the 25th anniversary exhibition at Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf in Double Bay, Sydney, which showcases all 49 finalists’ works and is free to attend.

Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize 2026’s Winning Entry

Mark’s winning entry, for which he was awarded $25,000, was Nascent State: (hot pink). The sculpture, acquired for the Council’s permanent public collection, is made from 3D-printed material and enamel paint, its modular, monochromatic components inviting consideration of both artificiality and industrialisation.

“The winning work, ‘Nascent state (hot pink)’, rises up in a state of becoming, but also of breakdown, proliferation and clinging on,” said Judge Emily Sullivan. “We were drawn to the inherent contrasts within the work, between hard and soft, one and many, machine and organic, and modular and free form. 

“Each choice in the making process — from the use of printing technology to the meticulous hand finish and improvised assembly — seemed to wrestle with questions about technology and how it fits and relates to daily life.”

Artist Mark Booth On Winning The Prize

“I am deeply grateful and honoured to have been selected as a winner of the 2026 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize,” said Mark. “This recognition means so much to me—not only as an acknowledgement of the finished work, but also as encouragement to continue exploring, experimenting, and growing as an artist. 

“For me, sculpture is a way of thinking with my hands. It allows ideas, emotions, and memories to take physical form, while the materials and processes of construction often introduce their own unexpected possibilities. 

“I value the slow, tactile process of making: shaping, adjusting, responding, and sometimes allowing the work to lead me somewhere I had not anticipated, where uncertainty can become part of the discovery.”

A Word From Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf’s Director

Meanwhile, Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf Director Sep Pourbozorgi spoke on the significance of the 25th Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize.

“Since its inception,” Pourbozorgi said, “the Prize has supported both emerging and established artists, providing a platform for new ideas and playing a meaningful role in the development of artists’ careers. That legacy is something we’re incredibly proud of. 

“This year’s finalists reflect the breadth and diversity of contemporary sculpture, from bronze, glass and ceramics to fibre, found materials, 3D-printed works and stone. As we mark this year’s significant milestone, it’s exciting to look ahead and imagine what this year’s artists will go on to achieve, and the role the Prize might play in their journeys.”

The Prize’s 2026 judges —  Emily Sullivan (Curator of Contemporary International Art, Art Gallery of New South Wales), Beau Neilson (Arts Leader and Philanthropist), and Tim Silver (Artist and winner of the 2018 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize) —  selected Mark’s work from 49 finalists, chosen from 724 local and international entries.

To find out more about Mark Booth, visit his Instagram page.