A love of books, drawing and local cultural spaces has earned 10-year-old James Oh-Stephan special recognition in one of Waitaki’s most popular annual art exhibitions.
James’ artwork, titled James with his Head Full of Books, has been selected as the hero image for the 2026 George Burns Memorial Art Exhibition.
The exhibition, which celebrates artwork created by children across the Waitaki district, will be held at the Forrester Gallery and Mahika Kai Mahika Toi from 1 August to 27 September 2026.
For James, a student at Weston School, the winning artwork brings together two of the things he enjoys most: reading and art.
“I like books and we did a drawing of our heads and decided to put something in them, what we like, and then I put it full of books, different series, different shapes and sizes,” James said.
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A Proud Moment for a Young Artist
James said he felt “pretty proud” that his artwork had been selected as the exhibition’s hero image.
His recognition is particularly meaningful because the work was completed as an individual project during his art class.
Last year, James participated in the exhibition as part of a group project with his classmates. Together, they created a dragon using paper and cardboard.
This year, his solo creation will take centre stage and help represent the wider exhibition.
James believes the inclusion of children’s artwork makes exhibitions more interesting and gives visitors the opportunity to see what young people are capable of creating.
“It shows what young people can do at such a young age,” he said, adding that without the children’s exhibition, the gallery “could be a bit boring”.
His artwork is anything but boring. The image reflects his personality, imagination and enthusiasm for books, using different shapes and sizes to represent the many stories and series that interest him.
Inspired by Ōamaru’s Library and Gallery
James is a regular visitor to both the Ōamaru Public Library and the Forrester Gallery.
Most weeks, he can be found searching for new books at the library or exploring exhibitions at the gallery. He said these two places are among his main reasons for visiting town.
For James, the expanded Forrester Gallery and Mahika Kai Mahika Toi provides even more opportunities to discover new ideas.
“There’s so many different things to explore in the Gallery now that there’s another whole building to explore,” he said.
He believes galleries can also encourage visitors to try creating art themselves.
“There’s a lot of paintings. I love the shapes and sizes of the paintings,” James said.
The young artist enjoys drawing regularly and sometimes develops his sketches into painted works.
He uses both acrylic paint and watercolour but prefers working with acrylic.
He said acrylic paint is easier to use and also gives the finished artwork texture.
Celebrating Young Creativity Across Waitaki
The George Burns Memorial Art Exhibition is one of the Forrester Gallery’s busiest and most popular annual showcases.
The exhibition gives children from across te rohe o Waitaki an opportunity to display their creativity in a professional gallery environment.
It also allows families, schools and members of the wider community to celebrate the imagination and artistic development of young people.
For emerging artists, seeing their work displayed publicly can build confidence and create a stronger connection with the arts.
James is still unsure whether he wants to become a professional artist when he grows up. However, his passion for reading, drawing and visiting local cultural institutions is already clear.
He said it would be difficult to imagine life without the library or gallery because both places are so important to him.
His story also highlights the role that public libraries, galleries and creative programmes play in inspiring children beyond the classroom.
These spaces provide young people with opportunities to explore ideas, encounter different artistic styles and develop their own interests.
Exhibition Details
The George Burns Memorial Art Exhibition will be open from:
Dates: 1 August to 27 September 2026
Venue: Forrester Gallery and Mahika Kai Mahika Toi
Location: Ōamaru, Waitaki District
Members of the public are encouraged to visit the exhibition, view James’ hero artwork and support the many young artists whose creations will be on display.
The exhibition provides an opportunity to see the world through the eyes of children and recognise the creativity developing within the Waitaki community.
James’ Head Full of Books may have started as a classroom drawing, but its selection as the exhibition’s hero image shows how a simple idea can grow into something capable of inspiring an entire community.
Photo Captions
Photo 1: Last year, Weston School student James Oh-Stephan’s art class produced a dragon made from paper and cardboard for the George Burns Memorial Art Exhibition.
Photo 2: James Oh-Stephan’s artwork will be available for public viewing from 1 August at the Forrester Gallery and Mahika Kai Mahika Toi.
Photo 3: James Oh-Stephan explores other exhibitions at the Forrester Gallery, one of his favourite places to visit in Ōamaru.
Photo 4: Ten-year-old James Oh-Stephan with his solo artwork, James with his Head Full of Books, which has been selected as the 2026 George Burns Memorial Art Exhibition hero image.
Photo credit: Photos supplied by Waitaki District Council.
