2026 Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize Exhibition

Art and science collide in the 2026 Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize exhibition.

Since 2002, the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize has called for 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 shortlist for the 2026 Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize brings together a rich and diverse survey of 74 works that map the intersection of nature, science, and art.

Winners will be announced on 9 April ahead of the public opening of a major exhibition showcasing all shortlisted finalists, running until 19 July 2026.