Truscott Prize for Tahnee Day
It is with great pride that we announce an exciting new partnership with the John Truscott Design Foundation who have awarded Kaiela Arts artist Tahnee Day, the 2026 John Truscott Prize.
Tahnee Day is a proud Gunditjmara, Wemba Wemba and Yorta Yorta woman, living and creating on Yorta Yorta Country in Shepparton, Victoria. Tahnee’s multidisciplinary practice is grounded in cultural connection, experimentation and contemporary expression, spanning painting, digital illustration, textiles and design.
Tahnee Day. Photo by Christian Capurro, courtesy of Koorie Heritage Trust.
“Tahnee Day is a natural creative with a strong and intuitive visual language. Her ability to produce intricate, bold work that reflects her pride in community and respect for her Elders is something that continues to set her apart. At Kaiela Arts, we see opportunities like the Truscott Prize as essential, particularly in the public domain – where our Yorta Yorta artists can share their stories more visibly. This kind of platform not only supports artists like Tahnee but also strengthens how our communities are seen and understood more broadly.”
— Chloe Jones, Kaiela Arts Curator and Gallery Manager
Through a design residency at Kaiela Arts, Tahnee will develop a major public artwork project in 2026 for the external windows of the art centre.
“Before creating this work I’ve thought about so many things to get the right representation of my Yorta Yorta mob, my Elders, my people. I feel like it’s really important to have my Elders’ input as I develop the piece, to ensure continuity of our ways where we look to our Elders for everything – whether it be in art, life, community.
It’s not about looking for their approval but more about respecting our culture and traditions and making sure stories, culture and knowledge are passed on properly because we have already lost so much. Each mob is different and unique and in this work I will really be highlighting the styles and mark-making from south-east Victoria area and stories of my Yorta Yorta people.
I will feature scar trees in the piece in homage to my brother Thomas Day, one of my biggest inspirations. He used to talk about our traditional art styles being modernised. We used to paint with ochres, now we paint with acrylics. We used to scar trees and now we scar buildings through our art.”
— Tahnee Day
The final work will be launched on Thursday 1 October 2026 at Kaiela Arts.
The project is supported by the John Truscott Design Foundation and their principal sponsor, the Hugh D.T Williamson Foundation.
