Mia Mala MCDONALD
Unveiling tomorrow 2024
pigment ink-jet print, watercolour paint, watercolour pencil
courtesy of the artist
William and Winifred Bowness Photography Prize
The Bowness Photography Prize is an anchor to our annual programming, and with the introduction of the $10,000 Wai Tang Commissioning Award, the prize continues to increase the ways in which it grows and deepens its support of artists and their practice.
Anouska Phizacklea, MAPh Director
2025 Bowness Photography Prize
Exciting announcements are coming soon: stay tuned for updates to the Bowness Photography Prize in its 20th year!
Learn more about the history of the prize, its past winners and finalists below.
Australia's most important photography prize
The Museum of Australian Photography Foundation (MAPh Foundation) was established in 2005 with the aim to support the institution’s financial sustainability. Since then, MAPh Foundation has assisted the museum in raising awareness and funds to expand its nationally significant photography collection and yearly exhibition programming. This is achieved through the support of the museum’s philanthropic and fundraising program and annual art prize.
Yankunytjatjara artist Robert Fielding has won the 2024 Bowness Photography Prize for his commanding work of protest, ‘Sacred earth / Manta Miil miilpa’ (2024).
Sydney artist Anne Zahalka has been awarded $30,000 for her winning work ‘Kunstkammer’ (2023) and the work will be acquired into MAPh’s nationally significant collection of Australian photographs.
Melbourne artist Amos Gebhardt has been awarded $30,000 for their winning work ‘Wallaby’ (2022) and the work will be acquired into MAPh’s nationally significant collection of Australian photographs.
The 2024 Wai Tang Commissioning Award has been granted to artist Deborah Paauwe for her work 'The other twin' (2024). The artist will receive $10,000 to enable the exhibition of a body of work alongside the 2025 Bowness Photography Prize exhibition, with one work acquired into the MAPh collection.
The 2023 Wai Tang Commissioning Award has been granted to artist duo The Huxleys. They will present an exhibition of work at MAPh alongside the Bowness Photography Prize in 2024.
We warmly congratulate Renato Colangelo on receiving the Camera House People’s Choice Award for the 2024 Bowness Photography Prize, for his work 'Negative dark chamber' (2023).
We warmly congratulate Zo Damage on receiving the Smith & Singer People’s Choice Award for the 2023 Bowness Photography Prize.
