Textile artwork takes out the 2025 River of Art Festival Prize
Araluen artist Lilaea van der See has been awarded the 2025 River of Art Prize for her work ‘When Stillness Dances… 2025’ a textile installation featuring botanical printing on raw silk.
More than 200 people filled the Mechanics Institute in Moruya on Friday evening to celebrate the launch of the 21st River of Art Festival and hear the judges’ decision for the Art Prize.
Judges Cath Bowdler and Tony Oates praised the winning entry as “an outstanding piece of work, noting that it might be a surprise. Tony and I circled around this one, but we were drawn back to it as a fully realised complex work, and as we looked at the detail, all the elements work together and was assembled with care, great skill and consideration.”
The artist Lilaea van der See said: “I’m honoured and humbled to receive the River of Art Prize. There are so many beautiful artists here, and it means a lot to have my work recognised. My artwork is about being in harmony with the land and with each other — creating something sustainable and different.”
“This dress was made from a single three-metre piece of fabric with no waste. The plants spoke to the fabric and created their own magic. I’ve been doing botanical eco-printing for over a decade, often using upcycled materials. For me, the process takes a lifetime of learning, not just weeks in the studio.”
The winning work also included lyre bird and kookaburra feathers, sarsaparilla and freshwater mussel shells from the Deua.
Second Prize went to Felicite Briggs for ‘The Stolen Pomegranates 2024’ a coloured pencil on cotton paper drawing featuring luminescent fruit.
The judges described the piece as “a beautiful, technically excellent life drawing, intimate but glowing with life.”
Felicite gave her apologies as she was unable to attend the event.
The Highly Commended Award was presented to Ritchey Sealy for ‘Containment 2025’ oil painting. The judges said ‘It was an animated painterly work depicting fire trucks at work.”
The artist said “This painting is deeply personal — it reflects my experience as a division commander during the 2019–20 fires and the lasting impact of post-traumatic stress. Rather than dramatize the flames, I chose to depict a containment line — the long, exhausting work of trying to manage the fire alongside crews from across the country.”
A special mention was made to 91 year old artist Ian McKenzie from Tomakin for his intricately detailed ‘Mars Botanicus’ watercolour.
River of Art Chair Corin Rossouw said this year’s Art Prize had attracted a record 136 entries from across Australia.
“We are thrilled with the quality and diversity of entries this year. The River of Art Prize is a real showcase of creativity — from painting, photography, and sculpture through to textiles, glass, and jewellery. We invite everyone to come and see the exhibition in Moruya and vote for the People’s Choice Award” said Ms Rossouw.
The River of Art Prize exhibition runs at the Mechanics Institute in Moruya until the end of the October long weekend. The People’s Choice Award will be announced on Tuesday 7 October.
About Eurobodalla’s Festival of Art
The River of Art Festival — now in its 21st year — runs from 26 September to 6 October with almost 100 events stretching from Durras to Bermagui. The program features exhibitions, open studios, workshops, live music and performances, showcasing the best of the South Coast’s vibrant creative community.
The River of Art Prize is proudly supported by Community Bank Batemans Bay (Bendigo Bank) and Mystery Bay Cottages.
Festival sponsors include the NSW Government through Destination NSW, Eurobodalla Shire Council, Fires to Flourish, Whale Coast Realty, and Catalina Country Club, alongside many local businesses.
Full program details: www.riverofart.com.au