In its 36th year, the Linden Postcard Show continues to bring together a cross section of Australian artists with almost 1000 artworks, from first time exhibitors to nationally recognised, award-winning artists.
Linden continues to build relationships with new social partners including Jump Left, Bridge It and Sacred Heart Mission, among others. As such, entries from social partners have increased from 92 last year, to 108 in 2026. Social partners receive free entry into the Postcard Show, as do First Nations artists, reflecting Linden’s ongoing commitment to access and diversity.
Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026, Linden New Art plays a vital role in Melbourne’s contemporary arts landscape, with the Postcard Show remaining one of its most visited exhibitions.
The Linden Postcard Show 2026 builds on that legacy, inviting audiences to discover new artists, support creative communities, and experience the diversity of contemporary Australian art in one exciting exhibition. To represent this variety, there are 13 different awards which further add to democratic nature of the exhibition.
The Nina Taylor MP Awards were awarded to four winners, including Helen Garrott for her oil on paper work, The Coast 2026; Hyanju Kim for Mount Noorat, created with ink, watercolour and coloured pencil on paper on board; Loy Lichtman’s acrylic work of St Kilda institution Monarch Cakes, titled Monarch; and Andrea Ward’s Starry Starry Night, a black box framed canvas work combining acrylic and collage.
The Sculpture Award went to John Budd for his ABS resin work titled Keep On Keepin’ On. The Henry: Abstract Award went to Masaya Sato’s silk and cotton patchwork, A Swan in My Heart, Reborn in Kimono.
Emilia Perry from Monash University was awarded The Geoffrey Connaghan and Mathew Erbs Tertiary Award with The Other Woman 3. The Linden New Art Board First Nations Award was awarded to Cookie S Crow’s Naa for the acrylic on canvas work, created using the traditional dot painting style.
The Community Bank Elwood Kids Consultative Committee Prize went to Laila Tabassum for Where the Secret Stays, a mixed media work using shell stone, plaster and acrylic paint. The Community Bank Elwood Kids Consultative Committee Young Artist Prize was awarded to Soliyana (Artsbus) for the untitled work, created using a mixture of watercolour and collage.
Zai Kuang won The Rotary Port Phillip Portrait Award with Children #27, an intimate oil-based portrait.
The Searle x Waldron Architecture Urban Space Award went to Helen Reeves’ Notch #1, a collage created from dressmaking patterns, recycled paper and thread, and the Searle x Waldron Architecture Domestic Space Award went to Susan Granter for Reef Site SG211, a sculptural work made from high-fired porcelain paper clay.
The Sculpture Encouragement Award was awarded to Virginia Keft for Madjam: Between Light, created using eucalyptus timber, fibre and wire. The Abstract Encouragement Award was awarded to Walter Jugadai for the untitled work, created using an acrylic paint to achieve a striking piece.
The Acland Street Village Business Association Locals Awards went to Shiran Du for the watercolour work The Reader; Hyanju Kim for Cemetry Night; Cameron McGregor for Tea for the Tillerman; and Mario Sardini for Two Birds.
The Fitzroy Street Business Association Locals Awards went to Mark Hopper for Tarwin River – Tarwin Lower South Gippsland 2026; Catherine Coady for Mind Games 2026; Ann Molony for Sculptural Felt Vessel Cumin/Indigo 2026; and Chen Wang for Motherhood: Regulation 2026.
As an open-entry art prize, the Linden Postcard show continues to support living artists by presenting and selling their work, as well as acknowledging their wonderfully diverse and inspiring practices. Over the years the exhibition has been a steppingstone for many practicing artists to be seen, recognised and introduced to greater opportunities.
Linden Postcard Show 2026
Linden New Art, 26 Acland Street, St Kilda
Exhibition continues to 1 August 2026
Free entry
For more information, visit: www.lindenarts.org for details.
Image: Helen Garrott, The Coast 2026. Oil on paper, 42 x 54 cm – courtesy of Linden New Art