Richard Lewer Wins 2026 Archibald Prize for Iluwanti Ken Portrait
On May 8, Richard Lewer was awarded the 2026 Archibald Prize for his life-size depiction of Pitjantjatjara elder Iluwanti Ken at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. The $100,000 award was chosen unanimously from 1,034 submissions, with 59 finalists. Gallery director Maud Page commended the portrait's powerful presence. Lewer, a six-time finalist, portrayed Ken against a yellow ochre backdrop. Among the other notable finalists were musicians Daniel Johns and Jim Moginie, actor Marta Dusseldorp, and journalists Virginia Trioli and Jan Fran. Additionally, Gaypalani Waṉambi received the $50,000 Wynne Prize, while Lucy Culliton earned the $40,000 Sulman Prize. The exhibition is open from May 9 to August 16.
Key facts
- Richard Lewer won the 2026 Archibald Prize for his portrait of Iluwanti Ken.
- The $100,000 prize was announced on May 8 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
- The judging panel selected the work unanimously from 59 finalists out of 1,034 entries.
- Iluwanti Ken is a Pitjantjatjara elder, traditional healer, and senior artist.
- Lewer is a New Zealand-born, Melbourne-based artist and six-time Archibald finalist.
- The Archibald Prize has been running since 1921.
- The Wynne Prize was awarded to Gaypalani Waṉambi for 'The Waṉambi tree'.
- The Sulman Prize was won by Lucy Culliton for 'Toolah'.
- Adrian Jangala Robertson was a finalist in all three prizes.
- The exhibition runs from May 9 to August 16, 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Richard Lewer
- Iluwanti Ken
- Gaypalani Waṉambi
- Sanné Mestrom
- Lucy Culliton
- Adrian Jangala Robertson
- Loribelle Spirovski
- Mostafa Azimitabar
- Amanda Davies
- Stieg Persson
- Vicki Sullivan
- Sean Layh
- Daniel Johns
- Jim Moginie
- Marta Dusseldorp
- Virginia Trioli
- Jan Fran
- Jacob Collins
- Dylan River
- Sanne Mestrom
- Jennifer Mills
- Del Kathryn Barton
- Aiden Magro
- Michael Rose
- Beatrice Gralton
Institutions
- Art Gallery of New South Wales
- Tjala Arts
- Art Gallery of NSW board of trustees
- University of Sydney
- The Conversation
- ArtsHub
Locations
- Amata
- South Australia
- APY lands
- Melbourne
- New Zealand
- New South Wales
- Victoria
- Snowy Monaro region
- Central Desert region
- Australia
- Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands
- Sydney
- Yirrkala
- East Arnhem Land
- Naarm