Art and science collide as the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize calls established and emerging artists to turn their gaze to the natural world.
Named after the South Australian Museum’s first curator, Frederick George Waterhouse, this biennial prize recognises the long-running interplay between scientific research and the creative arts, from the illustrators and sculptors who help to describe and depict specimens, to contemporary artists who invite us to think about our environment and our impact on it.
The 2026 exhibition showcases a rich and diverse survey of 74 shortlisted works that map this intersection of nature, science, and art across two prize categories: Open and Emerging Artists.
This exhibition is proudly produced by the South Australian Museum.
Exhibition tickets are now on sale.
Dates: 10 April – 19 July 2026
Times: Open daily from 10am – 5pm, 12noon – 5pm Anzac Day
Tickets: $15 adults, $12 concession, seniors and students. Free entry for Museum members and kids 12 years and under
Book online or at the door by card only. Please note the Museum is cashless for exhibition ticket sales.
Thank you to our sponsors:
Open Prize Sponsor
South Australian Museum Foundation
Emerging Prize Sponsor
Hill Smith Art Advisory
People’s Choice Prize Sponsors
Sonya Hender and Ron Langman
Production Partner
Visualcom
We are proud to announce the shortlist of 74 finalists for the 2026 Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize.
42 finalists have been named in the Open category, and another 32 in the Emerging Artists’ category.
The shortlist includes paintings, sculptures, weavings and a selection of digital and video pieces.
A full gallery of all shortlisted artworks is now available online.
