The Lester Prize for Portraiture

The Lester Prize is one of Australia’s most prestigious portraiture prizes—an award that places artists and the community proudly front and centre.

Established in 2007 (originally as the Black Swan Prize), it provides a major platform for Australian portraitists to showcase their work in Western Australia.

Now in its 19th year, The Lester Prize has grown to become Australia’s largest national art prize by total prize money, with more than $130,000 awarded across two awards (Main and Youth), and multiple categories. 

In keeping with its ethos of “art accessible for all”, the Judging Panel made up of independent experts has chosen works from both established and emerging artists nationwide. The 2026 The Lester Prize exhibition season features the work of forty outstanding finalists, selected from over a 1,000 entries.

More details on the Lester Prize website.

Location: Level One, WA Museum Boola Bardip