2026 Award Winners:
Congratulations to all Artists for Conservation artists.
Simon Combes Conservation Award:
- Geraldine Simmons (Australia)
Baldwin Award for Conservation through Art Education:
- Doug Hiser (USA)
2026 Exhibit Artwork Awards:
AFC's annual juried "International Exhibit of Nature in Art" - the world's top conservation-themed art exhibit and sale will premiere in Vancouver, B.C. Canada at the AFC Festival on Sept 24th-27th, 2026 at VanDusen Botanical Gardens. Awards celebration will take place on Sept 24, 2026 at the Meet-the-Artists Opening Reception. More information
Best in Show, Painting:
- “Mother Tree” by Kentaro Nishino (Japan)
Best in Show, Sculpture:
- “Long Arm - Telling Leuser’s Story” by Casey Banwell (UK)
Medals of Excellence:
- “Mother Tree” by Kentaro Nishino (Japan)
- “Watching You, Watching Me” by Natalie Parker (Australia)
- “Silent Watch” by Stephen Jesic (Australia)
- “Love is in the Eyes” by Aga Elliott (USA)
- “High Perch” by Christina Dunzinger (USA)
- “The Connoisseur” by Sarah McComb-Turbitt (Canada)
- “Antithesis” by Gordon Pembridge (New Zealand)
- “Three’s Company” by Bruce Lawes (Canada)
- “Long Arm - Telling Leuser’s Story” by Casey Banwell (UK)
Environmental Statement Award:
- “Danger” by Matt Patterson (USA)
Interpretive/Abstract Award
- “Greater Spotted Cuckoo” by Zoe Evamy (Canada)
Best Landscape/Seascape Award
- “Crystal Cove: After the Rain” by Mark Hobson (Canada)
Pollyanna Pickering Memorial Award
- “Bull Elephant: Kicking Up the Dust” by Mark Hobson (Canada)
John Seerey-Lester Human-Wildlife Interaction Award
- “Iluminado” by Eleazar Saenz (Mexico)
Western Art Collector Magazine Editor's Choice Award
- “Love is in the Eyes” by Agnieszka (Aga) Elliott (USA)
Western Art Collector Magazine Award of Excellence
- “Here Comes the Sun” by Emily Lozeron (Canada)
Honorable Mention:
- “Deep Kinship” by Brett Blumenthal (USA)
- “Arctic Patrol” by Monika Loevenmark (Canada)
- “Step by Step” by Bruce Lawes (Canada)
- “Standing Stones” by Michael Dumas (Canada)
- “Vigilance” by Michael Dumas (Canada)
- “Last Light” by Brett Blumenthal (USA)
- “Sneak Peep” by “Crystal Cove: After the Rain” by Sarah McComb-Turbitt (Canada)
- “The Sloth and the Hummmingbird” by Ellen Woodbury (USA)
- “Capturing the Moon” by Martin Gates (USA)
- “Summer Song” by Martin Gates (USA)
Jurors
Thank you to our jury for their generous contribution of time and expertise. Jurors in this year's exhibit included:
- Michael Clawson - Executive Editor, International Artist Publishing and Western Art Collector Magazine;
- Guy Combes - AFC Signature Member, Combes Award Alumnus & AFC Advisor (USA);
- Brent Cooke - AFC Signature Member & Board Member, past Director of Royal BC Museum (Canada);
- Sunita Dhairyam - AFC Signature Member (USA); Combes Award Alumnus (India);
- Anna-Louise Pickering - Director of Pollyanna Pickering Foundation (UK);
- Suzie Seerey-Lester - AFC Signature Member, Combes Award Alumnus & AFC Advisor (USA)
Image Credits:
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“Long Arm - Telling Leuser’s Story” by Casey Banwell (UK)
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“Crystal Cove: After the Rain” by Mark Hobson (Canada)