Portraiture is the most accessible form of visual art. No matter the style in which it is rendered, the human likeness is something we can all relate to. It’s the one form of art we have all created at some point in our lives – there is something elemental in human nature that drives us to draw or paint the likenesses of people.
We don’t have to be experts to enjoy portraiture and we are proud to provide Western Australia with the opportunity to engage with the best of the artform each year in a format that puts the artists and community front-and-centre.
The Lester Prize Main Awards exhibition will be held at the Western Australian Museum Boola Bardip.
Fiona O’Byrne, Luci, now, 2026. Oil on linen, 63 x 43 cm.
Judges’ comments provided by Alan Dodge AM, John McDonald and Bryony Nainby:
“The judges unanimously selected Luci, now as the winner of the Richard Lester Prize 2026. They were captivated by the softness and tenderness of the portrait conveyed through an unlaboured handling of paint. Luci appears entirely at ease, reflecting the intimacy between sitter and artist. Her evident familiarity with being painted by her mother lends the work a compelling naturalness. Light is beautifully captured throughout, while details such as the sports jacket and the hint of nail varnish on her bare toes bring an understated specificity to her presence.”
Yasamin Khadembashi, Immoral warrior, 2026. Piped impasto oil paint, rhinestone, synthetic eyelash extensions and metal-leaf (copper, silver and gold) on linen, 197 x 101 cm.
Judges’ comments provided by Alan Dodge AM, John McDonald and Bryony Nainby:
“Bold, striking and ambitious, the work impressed the judges through its imaginative and adventurous use of materials. Monumental in scale and heroic in conception, it brings political ideas into a fantastical setting with a confidence that extends across subject, technique and form. The judges particularly admired the artist’s willingness to take risks, embracing material experimentation and dramatic scale to create a work of considerable presence and vitality. The artist did not play it safe, but their bravery paid off.”
Kim Harding, Kim with black cockatoo, 2025. Oil on canvas, 122 x 61 cm.
Judges’ comments provided by Alan Dodge AM, John McDonald and Bryony Nainby:
“In this confident self-portrait, the subject appears almost like a relief sculpture emerging from a flat, wallpaper-like background of banksias. The contrast between the dimensionality of the figure and the decorative flatness of the background is handled with remarkable assurance. Rich in detail, the artist has provided a visual essay of technical bravado.”
Sharon Billinge, Celeste 3, 2025. Oil on board, 23 x 15 cm
Judges’ comments provided by Alan Dodge AM, John McDonald and Bryony Nainby:
“A very touching picture capturing the emotion conveyed in the artist’s friend’s battle with terminal cancer. The red-rimmed eyes capture the suffering of the subject, while the facial expression conveys a sense of dignity. The economy of paint, used thinly on the wood, enhances the fragility of the subject.”
Ben Howe, Matilda in blue, 2026. Oil on panel, 42 x 30 cm.
Chosen by the finalists of The Lester Prize 2026:
Artist Statement: “I was looking for simplicity and honesty with this painting, which is attempting to capture something only half understood. Matilda projects a pensive yet clam melancholy. I painted her as if she were in between places, contemplating the past and looking into the future. I gave particular attention to her posture, the sense of space and the tenor of the colours, using delicate and subdued tones to convey a fleeting yet timeless moment.”
Dapeng Liu, Guido, 2026. Oil on canvas, 94 x 69 cm.
Judges’ comments provided by Alan Dodge AM, John McDonald and Bryony Nainby:
“The judges were struck by this compelling portrait of prominent arts patron and philanthropist, Guido Belgiorno-Nettis AM, wearing a worker’s cap, a reference to his father’s history as a young migrant worker. Guido’s direct gaze conveys determination and an air of dignity. The judges particularly admired the commanding scale of the face, the naturalistic rendering of skin through expressive, lively brushwork, and small details which further animate the portrait, particularly the white highlights in the eyes which draw the viewer into direct engagement with the subject.”
Sky Parra, Portrait of Scott Austic, 2025. Oil, oil stick, pastel and graphite on canvas, 122 x 112 cm.
Comment provided by Boris Melentis, Senior Technical Officer, on behalf of the Install Team at WA Museum Boola Bardip:
“The artist has captured the sitter’s anguish with remarkable accuracy, using the subject’s gaze to convey an intense emotional narrative.”
Phil Barron (WA) • Sharon Billinge (NSW) • Elyn Brey (NSW) • Renee Broders (VIC) • Jeff Bryant (WA) • Annabel Butler (NSW) • Doreen Chapman (WA) • Mark Bo Chu (VIC) • Martina Clarke (QLD) • Mark Dober (VIC) • Lane Doe (VIC) • Troy Drill (WA) • Anne Farrell (WA) • Dianne Judith Gall (SA) • Sophie Hann (SA) • Kim Harding (NSW) • Harry Harrison (WA) • Bronwyn Hill (QLD) • Ben Howe (VIC) • Dwayne Jessell (WA) • Yasamin Khadembashi (WA) • Dapeng Liu (NSW) • Harley Manifold (VIC) • Stephanie McClory (NSW) • Robbi Neal (VIC) • Khue Nguyen (VIC) • Andrew Nicholls (WA) • Fiona O’Byrne (VIC) • Nicole O’Loughlin (TAS) • Sky Parra (QLD) • Dale Rhodes (NSW) • Khashayar Salmanzadeh (VIC) • Nigel Sense (NSW) • Andrew Stevens (VIC) • Lucinda Tassone (WA) • Milla Weideman (VIC) • Kat Weir (VIC) • Marcus Wills (VIC) • Lily Wilson-Nannup (WA) • Vanessa Wright (NSW)
Ph 08 9423 5116
PO Box 1110
Nedlands WA 6909
