Indigenous artist wins Defence art prize with kangaroo skin sculpture
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Ron Bradfield Jnr, a Bard and Jawi saltwater man from Australia, received the 2026 Napier Waller Art Prize for his sculpture, Who We Forgot.
Bradfield’s work was selected from approximately 150 entries and is now on display at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. The sculpture uses carved shells and wood mounted on kangaroo skin to represent a First Nations perspective on Australian military service and awards.
Bradfield intended his art to challenge viewers to consider all survival stories, from those who endured invasion to recent arrivals in Australia, arguing that greater acknowledgement of these experiences would foster tolerance and safety. He incorporated materials from various Australian landscapes into the medals featured on the sculpture, connecting it to his family and heritage. Other finalists also addressed difficult themes related to military life.
Leah Gordon’s painting WRAN detailed experiences of sexism and assault within the Royal Australian Navy, while Paul Robertson’s Medals to Madness depicted the trauma experienced by service members. Kat Rae’s Un Pack highlighted the higher suicide rate among female veterans, linking it to the emotional burdens placed upon them by Defence institutions. The public can now vote online for a people’s choice award, with a $5,000 prize.
