Young Artist Wins Pathway to Open Studios

Young Quedjinup artist Noa Williams, winner of the Margaret River Region Open Studios Pathway Award, is preparing to present his work for the first time at the region’s major art event this September.
His practice involves collecting sourced material, including his own photography, and producing prints from these images to combine with collage, installation, ink transfers and drawing.
Using visual and written puns, Noa often recycles images to create new meaning or expand ideas about Australian society and culture, working with deliberately imperfect lines.
Noa’s work will be exhibited at Yallingup Galleries for this year’s Open Studios event.
The 22-year-old said he was excited to be part of this year’s Margaret River Region Open Studios.
“I’ll be working on a lot of prints and mixing in paint and drawings, reworking some of my photography as well as other images from found archival images” he said.
“Through my art I make commentary about life in Western Australia, most of it is inspired by surf culture, place, and nostalgia.”
Noa is completing Honours in Fine Arts at the University of Western Australia this year.
“My dream is to build a full-time career from my art and use my work in the music industry or graphics.
“I’m stoked to be invited to take part in my first Open Studios event this year and working hard to produce a new body of prints.
“I’ve received an unbelievable amount of support from Yallingup Galleries that I’m so grateful for and am excited about the opportunity to meet other local artists and exhibit my work at this year’s MRROS event.”
Yallingup Galleries Manager Emma Skinner said Noa’s work explores memory and cultural inheritance through reworked vintage photos, postcards, and objects.
“He will make a fantastic addition to the 2026 Open Studios program,” Emma said.
Noa was awarded the Open Studios Pathway Award for his experimental 12-piece print series “HOLIDAY”72 (Aunty Sheila)”.
The Pathway Award is part of the Artbeat Mentorship Program, which supports emerging artists aged 17–21 and offers professional development including gallery representation, coaching, mentoring and an alumni support network.
The Margaret River Region Open Studios event will run for 16 days from 12 to 27 September 2026, with artists across the region opening their studios to the public.
Artists living in the City of Busselton or Shire of Augusta Margaret River are invited to apply.
The 2025 event recorded more than 100,000 studio visits and attracted around 15,000 visitors to the region over the 16-day event.
Artists without a suitable studio space can be connected with a like-minded hosting venue.

Artist registrations are open until 31 March 2026 via www.mrropenstudios.com.au
For enquiries contact art@mrros.com.au, visit mrropenstudios.com.au, or follow the event on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
Sponsorship enquiries are also welcome via art@mrros.com.au.
Media contact:
Donna Watson, LastSay Communications
0419 901229
donna@lastsay.net.au