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A modern museum corridor with "The Lester Prize" exhibition, showcasing various framed artworks on white walls.
WA Museum Boola Bardip

The Lester Prize for Portraiture

Location

WA Museum Boola Bardip
Perth Cultural Centre, Perth / Boorloo

Dates

Saturday 20 September – Sunday 16 November 2025

Dates

Saturday 20th September - Sunday 16th November 2025

Tickets

Included with General Admission 

The Lester Prize is one of Australia’s most prestigious portraiture awards—an annual celebration of artists and their communities, giving them the recognition they deserve.

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 18th 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 2025 season will feature the work of forty outstanding finalists, selected from a record 1,124 entries—the largest number since the prize began.

This year’s finalists include 17 returning artists, 13 from Victoria, and 12 from Western Australia. Among them are: 

  • Jenna Pickering (Tom Price), whose tiny, meticulous Together as One claimed two awards in 2024.
  • Sid Pattni, also a 2025 Archibald Prize finalist.

Executive Director Shannon Yujnovich anticipates record attendance this year, while Director Russell Lester affirms the team’s commitment to championing Australian talent and creativity.

The Main Awards are open to all Australian residents aged 18 and over, with seven prize categories including: 

  • The Richard Lester Prize for Portraiture
  • Tony Fini Foundation Artist Prize
  • Minderoo Foundation Spirit Prize
  • Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize

All are welcome to view the finalists’ artworks - some of which are for sale.  

More details on the Lester Prize website.

Location: Level One, WA Museum Boola Bardip

Person drawing with a pencil in a classroom, surrounded by others.

Learn from our finalists

Join the 2025 Lester Prize finalists for hands-on workshops exploring diverse portraiture techniques.

Sign up for a workshop

Special exhibition events

People painting in a workshop
Public Program

The Lester Prize: Workshops

Join the 2025 Lester Prize Finalists for a series of engaging visual arts workshops at Boola Bardip.

WA Museum Boola Bardip
Thursday 2 October – Thursday 13 November 2025

Thursday 2 October - Thursday 13 November | Various times

 an artist drawing a portrait in an outside Venue
Public Program

Perth Art Weekend: Pop-up Portraits

Free life drawing event invites the public to try portrait drawing as part of Perth Art Weekend

WA Museum Boola Bardip
Saturday 18 October 2025

Saturday 18 October 2025 | 12.30pm - 2.30pm

Set up from 12pm

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