from Te Pou (The Post)

Artist Kayla Christensen has taken out the top honour at the 2026 World of WearableArt Awards, winning the Supreme WOW Award for her Sacred Nightfall, an intricately hand‑painted and stitched tapestry evoking a night goddess from Aotearoa’s native forests.

The award was announced at Wellington’s TSB Arena on Friday night, where New Zealand designers delivered a standout performance, claiming 15 of the 25 prizes, including the competition’s top two honours.

Husband‑and‑wife team Erna and Karl Van Der Wat were named Supreme Runner‑Up for their Armour of Pain, a work inspired by Erna’s experience of chronic pain and its transformation “from tormentor to mentor”. Judges described the piece as a “fearless portrayal of pain and power”.