Hamilton Artist Wins People’s Choice At 2025 IHC Art Awards

Hamilton artist Julian Godfery says it felt great to win the 2025 IHC Art Awards Forté Recruitment People's Choice Award with his striking work The Jaguar.

The Jaguar was a clear crowd favourite, earning 3,085 votes out of a total 9,480 cast by the public for this year’s 30 finalists.

It’s not Julian’s first win. He also claimed the same award in 2017 with his piece Invisible Magic.

Julian says his mother, artist Jane Galloway, is an inspiration to him and this particular work was sparked by a nature documentary he saw on TV.

He does his detailed pen-and-ink creations at home, the Enrich+ day base and at Jane’s Raglan studio.

His work has been exhibited at galleries around the North Island.

Art isn't his only creative outlet and he's also part of a band. "I play drums in Robert Mullen Junior and Friends which draws its musical inspiration from New Kids on the Block."

Jane says Julian has been drawing since he was five and always has a work on the go.

"He has made his style of pen-and-ink his own."

Anita Murdoch, Director of Forté Recruitment, says they're thrilled Julian won the People’s Choice Award.

"We're fortunate to have two of Julian's pieces in our office and look forward to seeing his future work. We’re also sending him a prize pack of art supplies alongside the award money.” Julian won $2,000 for his work.

The new owner of The Jaguar, Melika King, says she's delighted for Julian.

"The Jaguar will hang with Invisible Magic and Monarch, which are two of his other pieces that I’m the very grateful owner of.

"The detail he puts into his work is extraordinary and I look forward to seeing what he produces next.”

Note:

About the IHC Art Awards

The IHC Art Awards is an annual showcase of the talent and achievements of people with intellectual disabilities. Entries are open to New Zealanders aged 13 or over with an intellectual disability or an intellectual disability and autism.

Introduced last year, the Holdsworth Charitable Trust sponsors a prize for art studios. The prize money can be used at the studio’s discretion for materials, equipment or as a contribution towards additional tutor salaries.

The awards are judged by a high-profile panel of New Zealanders, mostly artists or art professionals.

• $5,000 First Place Winner
• $3,000 Second Place Winner
• $2,000 Third Place Winner
• $1,500 Youth Award Winner
• $2,000 Forté Recruitment People's Choice Award
• $5,000 Holdsworth Trust Scholarship Award

Studios can submit up to three artworks by different artists for the Holdsworth Trust Scholarship Award. The individual entries in the studio award are eligible to win first, second, third or the Forté Recruitment People’s Choice award in the general competition.

The judges selected the 30 finalists including the first, second, third and the Youth Award winners from all the entries received.

Further information on the IHC Art Awards, including entry criteria, is available on the IHC website.

About IHC New Zealand

IHC New Zealand advocates for the rights, inclusion and welfare of all people with intellectual disabilities and supports them to live satisfying lives in the community. IHC provides advocacy, volunteering, events, membership associations and fundraising. It is part of the IHC Group, which also includes IDEA Services, Choices NZ and Accessible Properties.

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