Woollahra Small Sculpture Art Prize
2 October – 29 November 2026
Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf
Gadigal & Birrabirragal Country, Double Day, NSW
Tricia Singer has been selected from over 700 artist entries as a finalist in the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize for her work titled 'Peacock' which tells the delightful tale of a family road trip from the dusty red centre, spotting a special tjulpu (bird) along the way.
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Artwork statement
I was travelling to Darwin with my family for my partner to attend a big meeting. On the way up we stayed at Mataranka and I took the kids down to the water for a swim. When we were walking back to the cabin the kids saw this peacock and were following it around so delighted. I was thinking about those memories of a special time. It was fun!
I’ve been collecting these materials - the wire and rusty metal around where I live in Iwantja, and was inspired by the colours and shapes of the local wildflowers on my Country. As I was making those flower shapes I remembered the beautiful peacock at Mataranka and so this sculpture transformed into the peacock! I'm using the basket-weaving techniques my mum taught me, as well as the skills I learned from Maringka Burton, one of the senior Tjanpi artists in Iwantja. Palya.
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Tricia is a Yankunytjatjara woman from the remote community of Iwantja on the APY Lands. Raised in Pipalyatjara, where her family has lived for many years, Tricia began her artistic journey making punu (traditional carved wooden objects). She developed the foundations of her weaving practice by observing and working alongside her mother, the acclaimed artist Kunmanara (Sadie) Singer. The knowledge and skills passed down through her mother continue to shape and inspire Tricia's practice today. Her weaving is finely crafted and confident, she enjoys experimenting with distinctive sculptural forms and colour combinations, resulting in intricately detailed works that reflect both creativity and technical expertise. This is Tricia's first award entry and her first time as a finalist.
"I'm so grateful and excited that my Peacock is being displayed for people to see. In my younger years I was inspired when learning from my mum and now I get to share and enjoy the work that I do. I’m so honoured to be a finalist and I would like to thank Tjanpi Desert Weavers for the workshops they do when visiting the communities so I can explore my sculpture weaving in different ways. Thank you.” - Tricia Singer
