Thirty-one finalists have been chosen for the 2025 Zonta Ashburton Women’s Art Awards, with the premier winner to be announced on 7 March at a special event at the Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum.

Twenty-five finalists have also been chosen for the Young Generation Award, for artists aged 16-20.

The finalists were chosen from 126 entries, an unprecedented number for the event, which is in its ninth year.

The Zonta Ashburton awards seek to raise the status of visual artists who identify as women, as well as acknowledging the contribution women make to the greater art scene. The awards are also aligned with the values of Zonta International, which exists to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy.

The Zonta Ashburton Women’s Art Awards Finalists for 2025 are:

Amie Blackwell, Saskia Bunce-Rath, Sheena Burton, Emma Byrne, Marie Celeste, Carolyn Currie, Deanna Gracie, Katie Hallam, Julia Holden, Julia Holderness, Ina Johann, Yuki Komiyama, Monica Koster, Claire Langlands, Vic Mangan, Jessica Marcotte, Malaea McFadyen, Ferne Mcintosh, Amy McMillan, Nina Morris, Maree Quinn, Gemma Root, Cheriene Singer, Elfi Spiewack, Paige Tonkin, Charrette Van Eekelen, Elise Waterson, Clara Wells, Shannon Williamson, Sophie Wood, Viv Wotton.

Finalists for the Young Generation Award are:

Heilee Amonelo, Khaijren Neya Balbuena, Nina Banva, Sophie Browniee, Marley Celedonio, Ella Clarke-Powell, Abbey Cruickstank, Anna Do, Gracymay Ellen, Alexis Elliott, Margarette Erfe, Georgia Grins, Madeline Hann, Reka Harvey, Mackenzie Keech, Rose Langford, Kate Lusby, Rosie Major, Scarlett Giffin Munn, Lily Kempton Reeves, Emily Smith, Yua Tanaka, Aska Ueda, Sienna Yearbury, Ako Yoshizawa.

Judges for the 2025 awards are senior lecturer at Whitecliffe School on Fine Arts Christina Read, full-time artist Jenna Packer and curator and collections manager at the Suter Art Gallery Kyla Mackenzie.

Christina Read said the high calibre of entries made the pre-selection judging difficult.

“It has been an absolute honour and privilege to witness the depth of creativity emerging from the Waitaha Canterbury region from these talented women artists. Creativity is a profoundly courageous act - it requires vulnerability and bravery to share one’s vision with the world. It’s been inspiring to see.”

The pre-selection process was based on an anonymous number ranking system with judges seeing images and reading an artist statement supplied with the entry. Final judging will take place on-site with all finalists on display, during the exhibition from 8 March to 27 April.

The award winners will be announced at the exhibition opening on 7 March at 7pm, coinciding with the awards ceremony is the opening of a solo exhibition by Marie Porter, the 2024 premier award winner.

A People’s Choice Award will be open to visitors to vote for their favourite work throughout the duration of the exhibition and will be awarded at its conclusion.