Article: Mid West Art Prize 2025
Mid West Art Prize 2025
22 November 2025 - 26 January 2026
Geraldton Regional Art Gallery
Yamitji Country – Geraldton, WA
We’re thrilled to share that Ngaanyatjarra artist Joyce James has been named a finalist in the Mid West Art Prize 2025 for her work 'My Little Gang'! Joyce’s artwork celebrates her family's special bond with their five dogs - Snowflake, Lemon, Milo, Missy and Tinkerbell who are brought to life through playful forms and careful stitching.
“It’s exciting! I’m shocked and nervous. I’m happy to share my story with people across the country and for people to see my artwork in Geraldton - to learn about what it’s like to live in the bush with my dogs. I love my dogs.” - Joyce James
Growing up watching her grandmothers make Tjanpi, Joyce has a natural talent and design flair for making sculptural works. She has exhibited as part of Koskela's Ngalya/Together anniversary lampshade exhibition, which showed at Tarnanthi 2019, and contributed to a number of high-profile exhibition works in 2020. She exhibited in Tension[s] 2020: Tamworth Textile Triennial at the Tamworth Regional Gallery, Tamworth, NSW, and at Revealed: Emerging Indigenous Artists of WA at the Fremantle Arts Centre in Perth, WA, in 2020 and 2022.
My Little Gang - Joyce James, 2025
These five dogs are my pets. Snowflake thinks she’s human, understands Ngaanyatjarra, and watches the water for fish when I’m gardening. She adores my husband Milton and waits at the door when he’s away. Lemon, the retired adventure dog, survived three weeks lost out bush! Milo, the eldest, is my son’s loyal friend and sad when he’s gone. Missy, a “teen mum”, plays endlessly with her pup Tinkerbell, annoying Milo. Snowflake and Missy are sisters, Milo their uncle. They all know me well; some stay close, while the younger two cause mischief, tangling in my raffia as I make Tjanpi!
The Mid West Art Prize is held at the Geraldton Regional Art Gallery on Yamatji Country, WA. Winners will be announced Saturday 22 November.
