The 2012 IHC Regional Art Awards celebrate art by people with intellectual disabilities.
"There is a lot of variety and different techniques, so it has been very interesting," Dunedin artist and judge Kim Pieters said.
"Everyone's brought a different knowledge and understanding to their work and it's always exciting to see what people produce about something they love."
Fellow judge and Auckland fashion designer Denise L'Estrange-Corbet was equally impressed with the exhibition.
"I thought it was a very high standard. It's a great exhibition for people with learning disabilities to express their art," she said.
Nearly 160 entries were received from throughout the South Island for the awards, which were established in 2004 to recognise and encourage people with intellectual disabilities.
Two other regional finals will be held in Hamilton later this month and Wellington next month.
Works by Mark Palenski, Shane Armistead, Graham Preston, Levi Buckingham and Lachlan Young, of Dunedin, and Christopher Wright, of Oamaru, were selected for the national final, which will be held in Wellington on September 13.
The IHC Regional Art Awards are on at the Dunedin Community Gallery until next Monday.
