Zena Elliott is a deep thinker and passionate about their creative practice - and now has a major award to back up those decades of devotion.

Elliott has claimed the $20,000 top prize at the prestigious National Contemporary Art Awards with their work - The Silence Forced Upon Us Is Louder Than the Crown’s Declarations of Partnership and Fairness - as the annual exhibition was opened at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum and Gallery.

Elliott told The Big Idea this triumph is "a dream that came true," detailing that "It is a game changer in my career as an artist.

"I hope that I may no longer need to plea for an art show or submit an exhibition proposal to the limited available gallery spaces that is often contested and underfunded. 

"Through the recognition of this award, it highlights and affirms years of dedication and exploration. My art practice is in a constant state of flux and important mode for my development and currency as an artist. It keeps moving with time and responding to place and space."

Elliott (Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Te Rangi, Te Whānau ā Apānui, Ngāti Rangitihi) explains the significance of the winning piece, made with acrylic paint on raakau (wood) then bound in chains.

"The inspiration behind this artwork was fuelled by lived experiences, current cultural and artistic boundaries, and a need to artistically voice out systemic injustices. 

"In doing this, I wanted the artwork to initiate a constructive conversation through visual wānanga (to meet and discuss, deliberate, consider) to find positive ways to address pressing current social and cultural concerns through reflection and actionable responsibility."

"Throughout my art career, my practice has brought audiences a sense of belonging, comfort, discomfort, anger, wonder, inspiration, love, and curiosity. To date, this artwork is my most significant and power-mouth work that I created specifically for the NCAA.

"(The Award) positions my art practice in the context of contemporary art practice, where my work spills over boundaries and slips between art worlds and the other. I hope that this award opens doors for international opportunities and creative residencies."

After a record 480 entries, renowned curator Nigel Borell selected the winning work from the 53 finalists via a blind judging process where the artist’s name was not displayed - a long-standing tradition with the award where reputation means nothing and the art means everything. 

Borell states “It is a powerful work that made me return for repeat views. A work that is full of tension, energy and polemic intent.”

Having Borell give their work such powerful support adds extra encouragement for Elliott.

"This year’s judge is a highly respected and celebrated curator and to have my work selected as a finalist and winner means that there is potential for my art to reach a wider audience and start a visual conversation about ideas, concepts, and change. It also validates my art practice as a significant contemporary artist."

A boost for credibility and also cash that's not lost on Elliott. 

"The $20,000 prize will impact my ability to create more work without financial pressure in a positive way. It will give me the option of travel, research, and development - expanding my practice through mediums, methods, and technology."

Elliott's also looking to build on this success, with an ever-filling calendar.

"I will be attending a series of whakairo (carving) wānanga with a collective called Te ana o Hine (the cave of Hine), which is a wāhine-led carving space based at Te Tuhi in Pakūranga, Aotearoa New Zealand. 

"I am also a co-curator with Dr Nadia Gush and Dr Cassandra Barnett of a queer and takatāpui multimodal exhibition to be held at Waikato University's Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts galleries in early 2026."

The prize may encompass the entire country, but its roots in the Waikato have been part of what makes this success so special for the Kirikiriroa resident.

"In the early 2000s when the National Contemporary Art Award was first established here in Kirikiriroa Hamilton, it was seen as a significant and extremely important context for a diverse range of creative art practice and dialogue," Elliott explains. 

"2025 was the first time I have been selected as a finalist and winning the award was a significant milestone as a creative. It means that my art practice is current and important, not only for myself but the diverse communities I connect to and with."

It's significant too for Liz Cotton, Director of Museum and Arts, describing it as heartwarming to have a local artist take the win.  

“Zena’s work has been at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum and Gallery in the past, and it’s great to see her thought-provoking and striking work here again as the 2025 National Contemporary Art Award winner. This really is a piece that needs to be seen in person to appreciate its power and beauty.”

Among the other accolades dished out, Leanne Mulder received the $7,500 Runner Up prize for their work What the land remembers, while Merit Awards were presented to Cora-Allan Twiss for He tangata paerangi - coming from a distance ($2,000) and Kelly Rowe for Access Denied ($1,000).

The People's Choice Award will be voted on by visitors to the exhibition - open now until 16 November.