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 finalist 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.
Celebrate Mother’s Day with a memorable day out at the South Australian Museum. After exploring the exhibition, enjoy a comforting Devonshire tea at the Museum Café, complete with warm scones baked onsite and your choice of tea or coffee. Check in at our front desk on arrival to receive your cafe voucher.
Tickets are $22 and each ticket receives entry to the Waterhouse exhibition, scones and a tea or coffee. Only available on Sunday 10 May, 10am to 5pm.
To book a Mother's Day Bundle ticket, follow the link below and click Get Tickets, then select Sunday 10 May and add a Mother's Day 2026 ticket.
The South Australian Museum has been delighted to work with Access2Arts to develop Audio Descriptions for 9 artworks on display, including our Open and Emerging category winners. The trail starts with an introduction and room overview accessed via a QR code located to the left of the exhibition doors. Descriptions are accessible via QR code in the gallery space or to listen and download. Each QR code has a tactile braille indicator and NaviLens code for further accessibility and can be scanned by most smart devices.
Large print label guides are also available inside the exhibition space.
Read the full access guide for the 2026 Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize exhibition.
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
74 finalists were shortlisted for the 2026 Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize.
42 finalists were 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 finalist artworks is available online.
