Du Rietz Art Awards

Annual Gympie Regional Gallery art competition honoring the architect of the beautiful historical School of Arts building where the Gallery is housed.

The Du Rietz Art Awards are the premier art awards for the Gympie Region. Finalists are displayed throughout the Gallery and feature a range of 2D and 3D artworks.

Check back soon for 2025 competition entry information.

2025 finalists on view: 11 October – 21 November 2025
Official opening and prize presentations: Friday 17 October, 6pm

2024 Winners

Artwork Image	Award Details	Judges Comments
	2D Acquisitive Artwork Title: Two Birds with Two Stones Artist Name: David Thorogood, Nambour, QLD Award Sponsor: Countrywide Metals	A fascinating and densely layered piece that draws in personal and more widely recognisable iconography. This remarkable mixed media work comments on our natural world of both fauna, flora and landscapes that collide together in our current realm. A ragged, speculative portrait of the Australian landscape.
	2D Highly Commended Artwork Title: Turban III Artist Name: Joanne Smith, Noosa Heads, QLD Award Sponsor: CAA Consulting	A subtle watercolour and pencil composition where the turban hangs in mid-air as a ghostly spectre. This work is a fascinating study on form and texture, playing with the general potential of simple, striped fabric in this liminal, open-ended space. The image oscillates between detail and something less tangible, becoming part of the patina of the background. The vanishing cloth draws you in where you encounter colour and line before vanishing in front of your eyes.
	3D Acquisitive Artwork Title: pinampi Country thigga (Remember my Country) II Artist Name: Virginia Keft, Figtree, NSW Award Sponsor: Budget Steel	Traditional weaving practices fuse with charming representations of flying foxes ‘hanging out’, creating a celebration of community and culture. This finely executed work combines woven flying fox ‘matjam’ forms with sections of eucalyptus branches. This work echoes storytelling on Dharawal Country, a country imbedded with aboriginal presence that is expressed through culture and customs.
	Local’s Award Artwork Title: The Contours of Homesickness Artist Name: Kym Barrett, Chatsworth, QLD Award Sponsor: SoMa SoMa Espresso Bar	An amazing painting with subtle gradations of colour punctuated with black mark making lines, both bold and fine, with dashes of blue drawing the eye across the canvas. A delicate and emotive work that expertly layers washes of colour with gestural mark making. Shimmering blue brings an energy and movement to this quiet but powerful abstract work.
	Ceramic Award Artwork Title: From the Ashes Artist Name: Neita Bage, Peregian Beach, QLD Award Sponsor: Gwyn Moore, Gympie Regional Council and Cooloola Potters Group	A bold yet very refined and delicate vessel heavily marked with striped patterns that makes your gaze move up, down and around the pot. From the Ashes brings the elemental process of the ceramic medium to the fore. The organic, flame marked surface is complimented by the elegant and balance form – like wings rising from the ashes.
	People’s Choice Award Artwork Title: The Lungfish Artist Name: Libby Parke, Sexton, QLD Award Sponsors: David and Sally Gartshore, Annette Reilly, Heinke Butt and Drs Calin and Mihaela Negru-Radu

Artwork Image

Award Details

Judges Comments

2D Acquisitive

Artwork Title:

Two Birds with Two Stones

Artist Name:

David Thorogood, Nambour, QLD

Award Sponsor:

Countrywide Metals

A fascinating and densely layered piece that draws in personal and more widely recognisable iconography.

This remarkable mixed media work comments on our natural world of both fauna, flora and landscapes that collide together in our current realm.

A ragged, speculative portrait of the Australian landscape.

2D Highly Commended

Artwork Title:

Turban III

Artist Name:

Joanne Smith, Noosa Heads, QLD

Award Sponsor:

CAA Consulting

A subtle watercolour and pencil composition where the turban hangs in mid-air as a ghostly spectre.

This work is a fascinating study on form and texture, playing with the general potential of simple, striped fabric in this liminal, open-ended space.

The image oscillates between detail and something less tangible, becoming part of the patina of the background.

The vanishing cloth draws you in where you encounter colour and line before vanishing in front of your eyes.

3D Acquisitive

Artwork Title:

pinampi Country thigga (Remember my Country) II

Artist Name:

Virginia Keft, Figtree, NSW

Award Sponsor:

Budget Steel

Traditional weaving practices fuse with charming representations of flying foxes ‘hanging out’, creating a celebration of community and culture.

This finely executed work combines woven flying fox ‘matjam’ forms with sections of eucalyptus branches.

This work echoes storytelling on Dharawal Country, a country imbedded with aboriginal presence that is expressed through culture and customs.

Local’s Award

Artwork Title:

The Contours of Homesickness

Artist Name:

Kym Barrett, Chatsworth, QLD

Award Sponsor:

SoMa SoMa Espresso Bar

An amazing painting with subtle gradations of colour punctuated with black mark making lines, both bold and fine, with dashes of blue drawing the eye across the canvas.

A delicate and emotive work that expertly layers washes of colour with gestural mark making. Shimmering blue brings an energy and movement to this quiet but powerful abstract work.

Ceramic Award

Artwork Title:

From the Ashes

Artist Name:

Neita Bage, Peregian Beach, QLD

Award Sponsor:

Gwyn Moore, Gympie Regional Council and Cooloola Potters Group

A bold yet very refined and delicate vessel heavily marked with striped patterns that makes your gaze move up, down and around the pot.

From the Ashes brings the elemental process of the ceramic medium to the fore. The organic, flame marked surface is complimented by the elegant and balance form – like wings rising from the ashes.