Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival is a biennial celebration of art, nature, and community held in the heart of the Wollombi Valley.
In 2026 it will run from 12th – 27th September.
Nestled among the rolling hills and historic charm of the Wollombi Valley, the Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival invites visitors to experience contemporary sculpture in a uniquely immersive setting. Held every two years, the festival transforms the valley into an open-air gallery where visitors can wander through scenic vineyards, explore curated indoor exhibitions, and engage with a dynamic calendar of events.
The Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival is NSW’s longest-running and largest-scale regional festival. Since its inception in 2002, the festival has grown into a vibrant cultural event that showcases the work of both leading and emerging Australian artists across vineyards, village spaces and indoor galleries.
The Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival is a community-driven, not-for-profit initiative, supported by over 100 passionate local volunteers. The festival is proud to have Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of NSW, as its Patron. Each festival features the prestigious Governor’s Prize, with the winning sculpture exhibited at Government House for 12 months — an honour that reflects the festival’s commitment to artistic excellence and public engagement.
Visitors are encouraged to stay, explore, and enjoy the valley’s boutique wineries, cafés and accommodation while discovering the transformative power of sculpture in nature.
Join us for an experience where art, wine, and landscape converge — in less than two hours from Sydney.
OUR PATRON
We are privileged to have as our Patron, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC Governor of New South Wales, a role she has held since 2020.
Each festival features the prestigious Governor’s Prize, with the winning sculpture exhibited at Government House for 12 months. This is an honour that reflects the festival’s commitment to artistic excellence and public engagement.
Photo: Governor Beazley at Stonehurst Cedar Creek Winery with sculptor Ayako Saito in 2020, standing in front of Ayako’s work Lunar Shadow. Photo credit Nick Glover.
OUR AMBASSADORS
ARMANDO PERCUOCO O.A.M.
Born in Naples, Italy, Armando Percuoco began his culinary career at age 14 in his family’s restaurant, later training at Le Arcate and working in reputable establishments in Naples and Capri. Armando moved to Sydney in 1972, joining his father at Arrivederci Restaurant. In 1987, he foundedBuon Ricordo, a celebrated Paddington restaurant, retiring in 2018 after over thirty years.
Armando has supported various organizations, raising millions for the Starlight Foundation, St Vincent’s Hospital, Prostate Cancer Foundation, Sydney Theatre Company, Red Kite, and more. Armando is a long-time Patron of Sculpture by the Sea and Ambassador for the Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival. Armando established the La Tavola Art Prize in 1992 for young artists with Sherman Galleries.
He is a Founding Member and President of the Council of Italian Restaurants in Australia, winner of multiple awards including the Australian Small Business Champion Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, Hall of Fame induction, and Italy’s Insenga del Ristorante Italiano Award. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2020.
Photo: Armando Percuoco at his Laguna property Valleyfield
PAUL SELWOOD
Paul Selwood is a leading Australian sculptor known for his innovative steel abstract works. He trained at the National Art School in Sydney, carved marble in Greece, and spent six years in London with the Kasmin Gallery, also teaching at Bath Academy of Art. Returning to Australia in 1971, he held over twenty solo exhibitions. In the mid-1980s, he established a studio and sculpture park in Wollombi and served as Senior Lecturer in Sculpture at the University of Newcastle.
Selwood’s work explores spatial dynamics and visual perception, often inspired by the Australian landscape.
With broad exhibition experience in Australia and overseas, Selwood has earned major awards including a Highly Commended Wynne Prize (1998), Balnaves Foundation Award and Winner of Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi (2011), and Helen Lempriere Scholarship (2013). That same year, his sculpture “Expanded Figure” was featured at Sculpture by the Sea in Aarhus, Denmark, and subsequently acquired by Kamstrup Engineering.
His sculptures are represented in major public collections, including The Art Gallery of NSW, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Heidi Museum of Modern Art, Victoria, and McClelland Art Gallery and Sculpture Park.
JENNIFER WINTEN
Jennifer was fortunate to grow up surrounded by art, in a family of art lovers, collectors, gallery owners and benefactors, gradually building up her own collection of paintings and sculptures. As an ambassador, she aims to build on the connections she has with artists, sculptors and members of the art fraternity to further promote the Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival and to provide ideas and inspiration with the goal of further enhancing the Festival.
Jennifer has assisted, in various roles, with the general organisation, administration, guided tours and sales coordination of the festival and was a foundation donor in 2019.
DISTINGUISHED JUDGING PANEL 2026
ISABEL LANGTRY Principal, Hampstead School of Art
Isabel H Langtry was our special guest artist in 2024 and returns in 2026 as a judge and presenter. Isabel graduated from St Martins School of Art, London, M.A in pure sculpture. Langtry’s exhibition at the Whitechapel Art Gallery, London, explored a reinvention of forms as do her series of sculptures in public spaces permanently sited in Chile, China, Spain, Slovenia, Saudi Arabia and London.
JOHN MCDONALD is one of Australia’s best-known and respected art critics, with more than 40 years of experience reviewing visual arts, fashion, film, journals, and books. He served as the senior art critic for The Sydney Morning Herald for 41 years, during which time he also wrote a weekly film column. He previously held the position of Head of Australian Art at the National Gallery of Australia.
JANE WATTERS is the Director, Galleries for the National Trust of Australia (NSW) and Director of the S.H. Ervin Gallery, Gadigal land (Sydney) a role that she has held since 2001. She has contributed to committees, judging panels and advisory roles, and curated numerous exhibitions, many of which have toured to other cultural institutions in Australia. Her professional experience in the arts commenced following studies in visual arts, art administration and education, and working in the commercial gallery sector. Jane has served on the board of Regional & Public Galleries Association of NSW and is alumnus of the Museum Leadership Program and recipient of two Gordon Darling Travel Grants. She is an advocate of contemporary, modern and historical Australian artists cultural heritage and women artists.
ORGANISERS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2026
President – Chris Books
Vice President – Peter Elms
Treasurer & Public Officer – Rick Jirsch
Secretary – Annie Cossins
Vineyard Representatives – Jane Hamshere, Laura Heslop-Shaw
Ordinary Committee Members – Sheena Duncan, Sioux Garside, Raymer Jones, Alice Parsons, Anthony Parsons.
FESTIVAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE 2026
The Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival is organised entirely by dedicated volunteers. We appreciate our 2024 team and over 100 volunteers for their support, and are now forming the 2026 organising committee.
Festival Executive Director:
Sheena Duncan
Festival Co-ordinators:
Deb Harrod
Alice Parsons
Artistic Committee:
Lead – Raymer Jones
Curator – Wendy Black
Sioux Garside
Ant Parsons
Stephanie Vella
Administration:
Wendy Wong
Development & Events:
Sheena Duncan
Marketing Committee:
Lead – Deb Harrod
Annie Cossins
Heather McMullen
MEDIA PARTNERS
Photo above: Opening Ceremony 2019. Photo courtesy of Chris Southwood.