Morgan wins 2025 Mallinson Rendell Illustrators Award

The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi has announced Josh Morgan (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Rongowhakaata, Te Whānau-a-Kai) as the 2025 Mallinson Rendel Illustrators Award recipient.

The 2025 selection panel, which included illustrator Sarah Wilkins, artist John Walsh and author Libby Limbrick, said, ‘Josh Morgan’s illustrative work is an exemplar of all of the criteria for the Mallinson Rendel Illustrators Award – both in its richness and range of depth and outstanding quality. The breadth and vigour of his work excites, inspires and engages inquisitive young minds to become life-long readers.’

Morgan will receive $30,000 as part of the award.

Based in Wellington, Morgan is an illustrator and visual designer for books, animation and TV. He works with author Sacha Cotter as the Cotter & Morgan duo – writing, illustrating and performing bilingual stories across Aotearoa. Their works (The Bomb, Dazzlehands / Ringakōreko, and The Marble Maker / Te Kaihanga Māpere) have been recognised in the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year award, Storylines Notable Book Awards and international recognition from IBBY and Sourcebooks. Their work has also been adapted by the NZ Symphony Orchestra and the Royal New Zealand Ballet.

He said, ‘As a long-time sufferer of self-doubt and imposter syndrome this is immense. I am still in disbelief. I am so beyond grateful, and I feel truly, truly honoured to be a recipient of the Mallinson Rendel Illustrators Award. To have my name alongside the outrageously talented previous recipients (who I look up to and – I have to admit – have fanboy-ed on a few occasions) is unbelievable.’

More information about Morgan is available on the Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi website. 

Category: Awards Local news