Mark Davis Wins 2026 Bald Archy Prize with Satirical Painting Emperor Australis
Mark Davis received the $10,000 Bald Archy Prize for 2026 with his painting Emperor Australis, a satirical reworking of Jacques-Louis David's Napoleon Crossing the Alps that replaces the horse with a kangaroo and features Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The award marks the competition's thirtieth anniversary. Judy Nadin secured the $2,000 People's Choice Award for 2025 for her work Wild God. Davis's winning oil painting measures 75 by 95 centimeters. Finalists for the 2026 prize will be exhibited at Arts Mansfield in Victoria until April 19, then move to the National Cartoon Gallery in New South Wales from April 25 to May 24, 2026.
Key facts
- Mark Davis won the 2026 Bald Archy Prize
- The prize is worth $10,000
- The winning work is titled Emperor Australis
- The painting reimagines Jacques-Louis David's Napoleon Crossing the Alps
- It features Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and a kangaroo
- Judy Nadin won the 2025 People's Choice Award worth $2,000
- The 2026 finalists exhibition runs until April 19 at Arts Mansfield, Victoria
- The exhibition moves to National Cartoon Gallery, New South Wales from April 25 to May 24, 2026
Entities
Artists
- Mark Davis
- Jacques-Louis David
- Judy Nadin
Institutions
- Bald Archy Prize
- Arts Mansfield
- National Cartoon Gallery
- Wagga Wagga City Council
Locations
- Victoria
- New South Wales
- Australia