- All quotations come from the Wildlife Artist of the Year and/or website unless otherwise stated.
- I'm assuming the description of the art is by the artist (until anybody tells me otherwise)
- I'm going to use the text provided to me by the David Shepherd Foundation as to the Judges' reasons why an artwork won an award
- Plus some of the pics come from the dswfwildart Instagram account
- the rest are my pics.
Note: I only do this for long-running and prestigious art competitions which attract an international entry! That's because not everybody can get to the exhibition.
For my review of the exhibition see Another Excellent "Wildlife Artist of the Year" Exhibition (2026)
For my photos of the exhibition see an album on my Facebook Page - Wildlife Artist of the Year 2026
Overall Winner of "Wildlife Artist of the Year"
Stefano Zagaglia - Evanescence the Biggest
This brings a
- £5,000 cash prize,
- the official title, and
- a £5,000 conservation donation made in the winner's name.
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| WINNER OF WILDLIFE ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2026 Evanescence - The Biggest oil on canvas, 100cm x 100cm Stefano Zagaglia |
The Label in the exhibition states
The elephant slowly emerges from the white, a powerful yet fragile presence. Only a portion of Its body is visible, while the rest dissolves in the light, suggesting a presence that might vanish. The tusks, a symbol of its strength and its doom, become the focus of the gaze. A reminder of how great and majestic this species is, but also how vulnerable it is to human actions.
This was the Judges comment
"A winning artwork isn’t always the loudest. Sometimes it is the one you cannot stop looking at, and in that context the artist of this beautiful piece has presented the Elephant, our largest living land mammal whose quiet strength never needs to shout. Stefano has brilliantly embraced the subject, most importantly the category and this competition in all its glory."
- WAY 2026 Judge
About the Artist
Stefano Zagaglia's website
says nothing about him except why he paints wildlife. However
- his Facebook Page indicates he lives in Milan where he expresses himself more fully about what the prize means to him
- it did have this statement about "Evanescence"
The paint remains on the canvas as if struggling.
As if no longer certain it can remain.
It thins, surrenders to the light.
And the bodies of the animals approach the edges, dissolve.
As if suspended — between appearing and disappearing.
It’s a moment.
The moment before the end.
And perhaps, also,a last gesture.
A last attempt to hold them back.
Before they vanish completely.
Overall Runner Up
Prizes are- £1,000 cash prize and
- a £1,000 conservation donation made in the runner-up's name.
