A Towradgi woman has taken the top prize for the Lord Mayor's Illawarra and South Coast Aboriginal Art Award, and hopes to use the boost to campaign for further recognition of Indigenous culture in the region.
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Historical artist Caroline Oakley said she was shocked and overwhelmed when her name was called as the winner on Friday night, for her three-dimensional work titled Kamerunga Women.
"I spent the best part of six months to get it done, it was a crazy part of my life ... and an emotional journey," she said.
Her work, along with many other Aboriginal artists, will remain on show in the exhibition at the Wollongong Art Gallery until July 19.
The award night was held at the tail-end of the Indigenous Arts Festival.
"[Winning was] definitely a good feeling because it has healed some wounds in my own family ...
"Unfortunately I see that there's still not enough recognition in this country, and there's not enough recognition for Dharawal people here in Wollongong."
Ms Oakley said she wanted to sit down with other Aboriginal artists in the area to strive for a collaboration of acknowledgment, "whether in the form of art work or lobbying" to get tourism signs that not only said "Welcome to Wollongong" but also "Welcome to the home of the Dharawal" people.
Uncle Noel Butler came second in the art award for his woodcarving, Fire Spirit, and third prize went to Vic Chapman for an etching titled The Black Swan.
