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BE OPEN Art Announces Oceania Regional Competition Winners

The world of art is blooming as BE OPEN Art unveils the talents recognized in its Oceania regional competition for 2025. This initiative, spearheaded by the humanitarian think-tank BE OPEN founded by Elena Baturina, is designed to bring visibility to emerging artists whose work reflects their cultural and ethnic identities. This year marks the third edition of the competition, which has rapidly gained traction in the global art community.

For the regional contest, BE OPEN Art invites artists from various Oceania nations including Australia, East Timor, Fiji, and New Zealand, among others. The competition, which lasted for three months, showcased submissions from twenty talented artists each month. Notably, each month concluded with a public voting process that determined the Regional Artist, bringing community engagement into the forefront of this artistic exploration.

Recent months saw a parade of diversity in artworks on the online gallery, celebrating the vibrant artistic expressions stemming from the rich cultural fabrics of the region. Artists not only showcased their creativity, but also the narratives behind their artworks, reflecting identities rooted in personal and collective experiences.

After three months of extensive viewing and voting, the top honor of Artist of the Region was awarded to Huriana Kopeke-Te Aho, a self-taught artist hailing from New Zealand. Huriana’s work is deeply entrenched in Maori traditions, vividly exploring themes such as cultural heritage and identity. With a commitment to challenging conventional artistic norms, Huriana showcases the urgency of decolonizing artistic expressions while honoring Maori and the Pacific cultural traditions. As recognition of their exceptional talent, Huriana was awarded a grant of 500 euros.

In addition, Tania Calvo, an artist from Vanuatu, received a special grant of 300 euros, chosen personally by BE OPEN’s founder, Elena Baturina. Tania's art is infused with her ethnic diversity and connection to her homeland’s cultural heritage. Her mantra, “Always be your true self,” resonates through her artwork, reflecting authenticity and vibrant spirit—qualities that the BE OPEN foundation seeks to encourage.

This competition highlights not only the creative potential of Oceania but also sheds light on social consciousness through art. BE OPEN Art aims to recognize artists in the early stages of their career who weave social issues into their creations, fostering an environment of empathy and dialogue through aesthetics.

The success of the Oceania Regional Art initiative underscores the importance of connecting emerging artists with the global audience while simultaneously igniting a conversation about culture and identity. BE OPEN expresses its gratitude to the Oceanic Art Society for their instrumental support in reaching out to local artists and viewers.

As we look forward to the future, the community invites art enthusiasts worldwide to engage with these emerging talents, helping them gain the recognition they deserve. Contributions to BE OPEN Art not only support these artists but also allow us to explore the vast diversity and richness of cultural expressions that art offers. Join us and take part in celebrating the voices reshaping today’s art scene, for every vote counts in this ongoing narrative of cultural identity.