Dunedin-based artist Ayesha Green has won the prestigious $25,000 National Contemporary Art Award for 2019 for a painting entitled Nana's Birthday (A Big Breath). New Zealand's National Contemporary Art Award is celebrating its 20th year. Held at the Waikato Museum, the award has been a go-to place for media controversy. Notorious winners have included this years New Zealand artist at the Venice Biennale Dane Mitchell's pile of rubbish (made from the discarded wrappings for the other finalists artworks), Gavin Hipkins photograph of a soap dish and Dave Stewarts ready-made sculpture of beer crates. The winner of this years award was announced on Friday night at the opening of the exhibition of the work of the 50 finalists, receiving $25,000 from major sponsors Tompkins Wake and Chow Hill. We talk to the winner live in the studio on the Sunday and also this year's judge, renowned New Zealand photographic artist Fiona Pardington. There's a handy chart of the past winners' work online here.