2026 Archibald Prize: Salon des Refusés showcases rejected portraits

The 2026 Archibald Prize finalists are on display at the Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney until August 16, while the Salon des Refusés at the SH Ervin Gallery (until July 26) features rejected entries. The prize, judged by the Art Gallery of New South Wales' board of trustees (including artists Tony Albert and Caroline Rothwell), selected 59 finalists from 1,034 entries over a weekend. Notable finalists include Sindy Sinn's portrait of Adam Hyde (Keli Holiday) and Adrian Jangala Robertson's portrait of Dylan River. The Refusés includes works by Wendy Sharpe (portrait of Patricia Piccinini) and Julia Ciccarone (portrait of Anu Kumar). Critics like Christopher Allen and John McDonald have criticized the selections as 'lurid' and indicative of cultural decline, while former curator Anne Ryan notes the judging considers not just painting quality but also the stories of sitters and how the exhibition reflects the past year in Australia. The author argues the process is partly about narrative and media appeal, with anomalies like Tom Carment's self-portrait accepted over Lewis Miller's.