Elyas Alavi Wins Inaugural Artbank Prize for Face to Face

Elyas Alavi, an Afghan-born artist now living in Melbourne, has won the first-ever Artbank Prize for his 2025 oil painting called Face to Face. This piece, measuring 104.5 × 78.5 × 5.5cm, explores significant topics like belonging, exile, memory, migration, and queer identity, capturing both personal and communal experiences. Judge Ellie Buttrose praised its "quiet emotional power," while Tony Albert highlighted its "originality and intricate storytelling." Among the finalists were artists like Dave Carswell and Cathy Franzi. The winning artwork will be included in the Artbank collection, and an exhibition titled Face to Face, 2025, is set for Artbank Sydney from 3 September to 30 October 2026. This award, supported by the government, recognizes both emerging and established artists in contemporary Australian art.