Exit Art, the Northern Territory’s premier high school graduate exhibition, showcases the very best contemporary art and design from our next generation of creatives.
Presented annually at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, in partnership with the Northern Territory Department of Education and Training, Exit Art reflects the diversity of the Territory’s artistic practice and practitioners.
Now in its 22nd year, Exit Art continues to provide a significant platform for young people to share their voices and ideas with our community.
The finalists’ works span a range of mediums, including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, film, animation, graphic novella, architecture, fashion and contemporary craft. Together, they explore themes such as connection to place, inherited knowledge and identity, lived experiences of the screen generation, contemplative practices for mental health, and the revival of traditional crafts.
With artists from Darwin, Palmerston, Alice Springs, Katherine and Nhulunbuy, the finalists selected represent the diversity of perspectives and creativity found across the Territory, poised to enrich our arts and cultural sector into the future.
Artists
Amy Fleming | Asha Michell | Ashley Samarita | Austin Armstrong | Belva Syada
Cameron Richards | Claudia Wyles | Daisy Nguyen | Eliesa Taliu | Ella Hughes
Erin De Jager | Freddy Bacher | Gabriella Sanders | Hala Etaywe | Harini Bitla
Hoang Quynh Chi (Chi) Nguyen | Isabella Fava | Isabella Groves | Jordyn Matthews
Josh Ioane | Kayla Miller | K-La Sky Ferrer | Kaylee Pearce | Keira O'Brien | Kiara Ryan
Kiendra Lewis | Kyra Harrison | Lauren Cattanach | Leo Nguyen | Lionel Ortega
Luca Toonson | Lucy Mander | Lucy Tinapple | Mareikura Tupaea | Maria Kynigos
Matilda McDonald | Matthew Walmsley | Milo Van Haeften | Montefiore Forrest-McMinn
Muhammad Lessy | Natasha Lee | Nomiki Redwood | Penelope Down | Rebecca Dobson
Sapan Sedhai | Sara Bertschi | Scarlett Cobban | Scarlette Olsen | Shamisha Stuart
Shayna Murphy | Sidney Harris | Sophie Fellows | Sophie Kuswadi | Tadhg McQuillan
Tiani Andrews | Tiger Stafford | Trisvina Lewis | Viet Tran | Wren Fisher-Kendell
Schools Represented:
Casuarina Senior College | Centralian Senior College | Darwin High School | Good Shepherd Lutheran College | Henbury School | Katherine High School | Mckillop College | Nhulunbuy High School | NT Christian College | Northern Territory School of Distance Education | O' Loughlin Catholic College | Palmerston College | St John’s Catholic College | The Essington School
Awards:
Winners will be selected from the pool of finalists in the following categories:
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The Minister’s Choice Award
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NXT Gen ARTS Grant Award
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Art Educators of the Northern Territory Award
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Australian Teachers of Media NT Award
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MAGNT Foundation Award
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Darwin Visual Arts Award
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Tactile Arts Craft Award
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Darwin Street Art Festival Award
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Jacksons Drawing Award
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People’s Choice Award
This year, the Northern Territory Government’s support for Exit Art has broadened, with the Department of People, Sport and Culture coming onboard to sponsor a new award. One finalist will be selected for a $13,000 NXT Gen ARTS Grant to develop their artistic practice with industry backing and sector support. The NXT Gen ARTS grant program pairs young creatives with NT arts organisations for work placements that facilitate long term career pathways in the arts and cultural sector.
The winners will be announced on Friday, 13 February 2026,
Join us to celebrate the opening weekend of Exit Art on Saturday 14 February. Our cohort of finalists will be discussing their artworks in the gallery, with an exhibition tour led by the curator from 12:30pm.
The Exit Art exhibition will continue until Sunday 31 May 2026.
MAGNT Darwin
19 Conacher Street
The Gardens, Darwin
Open daily: 10am – 4pm
FREE ENTRY*
P +61 8 8999 8264
E info@magnt.net.au
Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and Good Friday
* excludes touring exhibitions
Exit Art opens to the public at MAGNT Darwin on Saturday 14 February 2026 and will be open until 31 May 2026.
This year will continue the exhibition’s three dacade legacy of highlighting the importance of visual arts education and the role of arts educators in encouraging and guiding the creativity of young NT artists in preparation for their futures.
Exit Art is jointly presented by MAGNT and the Northern Territory Department of Educationn and Training.
Sponsors
