2025 Judges
James Wright
James Wright is a New Zealand Sculptor who draws inspiration from his heritage and rural upbringing. His large scale Corten steel sculptures are found throughout NZ in private and public collections.
A raw and natural style gives James’ work a distinct and striking, unique look. Working with the steel’s natural tendencies, James finds forms within the material and draws it out to stand proud in the landscape. Many of James’ artworks have either won or become ‘People’s Choice’ in several of NZ’s leading sculpture exhibitions, his work has featured on television shows such as Grand Designs, Design Junkies and Seven Sharp.
View his website. https://jameswright.co.nz
Margaret Kouvelis
Margaret is a well-loved and well-known dash of colour and courage for her many roles across education, retail, the rural sector and local government.
The Talent Central founder and chief executive and former Manawatū District mayor has dedicated nearly 70 years to education, her community and young people. She's chairperson of the Hilux Rural New Zealand Games, and the Central Energy Trust.
Margaret has been a strong supporter of the Kimbolton Arts & Sculpture Trust from its beginnings and a past judge of the Sculpture Awards.
Sian van Dyke
With almost 20 years curatorial experience working around the motu, Sian van Dyk is the Senior Manager Curatorial and Collections at Te Manawa (Manawatū), and has held positions at art galleries such as The Dowse Art Museum (Te Awakairangi) and The Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua (Whanganui). Working across the visual arts van Dyk has curated over 80 exhibitions. She has a special interest in the connections people form with craft objects, and how this is translated through contemporary practice, which she has written about internationally. In 2015 she was the recipient of the Creative New Zealand Craft/Object Art Curator to Munich award, which culminated in the exhibition The Language of Things: Meaning and Value in Contemporary Jewellery (2018). This international project included over 100 artists from Europe, the USA, Australia, Asia and Aotearoa.