Art, Legacy, and Place: A New National Art Prize Honours Eileen Fair
Te Manawa Museum is proud to share the inaugural recipient of the Fair Trust Art Prize: Wellington-based multi-media artist Emily Hartley-Skudder.
Emily Hartley-Skudder admires ‘the green room’ laundry at the home of the late Dr Eileen Fair. Photo: David Le
This significant new national prize made possible by the Estate of Dr Eileen Fair, which recently became a Charitable Trust, offers $40,000 to support the development of a new body of work over 12 months. It’s a bold investment in the future of contemporary art in Aotearoa, and a heartfelt commitment to the people of Manawatū.
Hartley-Skudder’s upcoming exhibition will explore the historic women’s restroom ‘Ladies Rest’ in Te Marae o Hine – The Square, Palmerston North. This unique public space, once a refuge for women in the city centre, offers a rich lens through which to examine gender, architecture, and the social value of everyday places.
“The story of the Ladies Rest is complex,” says Emily. “Not only from a historical or architectural perspective, but from a social perspective. The research I am undertaking allows me to highlight the value of ordinary, public and private spaces in society and the gender divisions attached to them.”
Known for her vibrant oil paintings and immersive installations, Emily’s work often blends nostalgia with critical reflection. Her practice invites audiences to re-examine the familiar, and to consider what it means to feel safe, seen, and at rest.
The Fair Trust Art Prize was established in accordance with the wishes of Dr Eileen Fair, a Manawatū scientist, traveler, dancer, actor, businesswoman, and passionate arts advocate. Over her lifetime, Eileen built a formidable art collection and remained deeply engaged with contemporary thinking. Her legacy now lives on through this prize, designed to bring artists at the top of their field to Manawatū, and to make high-quality art accessible to the community.
A photo of Dr. Eileen fair on display at her home. Photo: David Le.
“Eileen was passionate and determined, with an eye for alternative and contemporary thinking,” says the spokesperson for the executors of her Estate. “We know she would be delighted to see Emily named and we are looking forward to continuing her legacy through the Prize.”
Te Manawa is honoured to partner with the Fair Trust to deliver this prize. As part of the award, Emily will also lead a community engagement programme, inviting local audiences to reflect on the spaces we inhabit and the stories they hold.
Hartley-Skudder’s exhibition will open at Te Manawa Art Gallery and Museum in August 2026, and a work from the show will enter the Te Manawa Art Collection.
