The judging panel states:

“Ige has developed a unique approach to her painting practice since her graduation from AUT University in 2016 and early exhibitions from 2017. Cognisant of the invisibility of Black Diaspora in Aotearoa, she has formulated a painterly language that centres on representations of the Black female figure. Her stylised figures are affirmatively Black and female yet resist fixed identification and definition. She confidently uses abstract space for veiling, healing, self-determination, courage and freedom for her subjects.

Her figures are powerfully set within landscapes or colour fields of blue—impressionistic and speculative spaces that remain purposefully undefined. Her palette draws on the deep lineages of Nigerian indigo fabric traditions and the cultural significance of blue more generally for African communities, for whom it symbolises spirituality, protection, and love. Often set within pools of mythic proportions, Ige hints bravely towards the nourishment of spirit, fiction, and ‘pre-colonial’ ways of knowing and being. In The poetic notions of blue: A haven, Ige plays expansively with the spatial field of the painted form. The edges of her work flow into space and onto the gallery floor, creating a measurement for painting beyond the wall-bound rectangular frame, allowing for associations with dress, fabric, and a pool of colour on the Gallery floor. These evocative works are painted for their belief in the ability of the ancient medium of painting to create a haven within our times, even within an established set of materials and forms.”

Ruth Ige, whose dynamic and thought-provoking works often explore themes of identity, heritage, and transformation, will present a new body of work in a solo exhibition, which will open on 22 August 2026 at Te Uru. Ruth will receive a non-acquisitional monetary prize of $25,000 funded by the Seeds Trust. This Award will support her in creating new work and continuing her impressive trajectory.

“I am immensely honoured to be receiving this prize. My heart is filled with deep gratitude. It means alot to be recognised by my art community. Not only has it made my year, but I will forever remember this moment.Thank you to everyone involved in this process. To all the judges and curators thank you. Thank you for believing in my work and art practice.” Ruth Ige 2025

“We are thrilled to have Ruth Ige as the winner of the first Rydal Art Prize to be presented at Te Uru,” said AD Schierning, Director of Te Uru. “Ruth has already launched an impressive international “career and shows great promise as an artist. Her approach to painting is incredibly unique and pushes boundaries, offering a great deal to the conversation around painting in Aotearoa.”