As the 2025 Lester Prize main exhibition drew to a close, there was just one more award to be handed out—the People’s Choice Award, as voted by the general public on-site at WA Museum Boola Bardip and online through the virtual exhibition.
Jessica Logan‘s portrait Half Time has just been announced as the winner of the prize, worth $15,000, through the support of the Baldock Family Foundation.
Logan is an emerging artist, celebrated for her nuanced realism. Her powerful portrait captivated audiences in portraying a breastfeeding mother eating an orange at her footy game’s halftime break.
We were fortunate enough to have a chat with Logan about what the win means to her, the significance of her portrait, and her upcoming project, a Women In Sport exhibition.
Congrats on the People’s Choice Award win! What does it mean to you that so many people voted for your portrait as their winner?
Thank you! Winning the Baldock Family Prize and receiving such widespread support for Half Time is a profound honour.
At the beginning of this year, I envisioned myself continuing in my executive leadership role. Due to unforeseen circumstances, by October, I faced redundancy.
I submitted to The Lester Prize for the first time in January. To then be announced as a finalist and win the People’s Choice Award is nothing short of awe-inspiring. I am incredibly humbled and thrilled. This recognition marks a significant step toward building a successful full-time art career—essentially, a dream come true for me.
We can see online that you’re a prolific painter – what made you select this portrait as your submission for The Lester Prize?
When I was creating the portrait of Cassandra, I realised early on that it held a special significance. Half Time resonates deeply with mothers and women in sports. My goal is to deliver nostalgic, powerful, and storytelling art, and this piece achieved that and so much more. I instinctively knew that I had to share it with a wider audience.
You’ve mentioned that you’re drawn to portraits that speak to resilience in overlooked moments—how did that apply to this painting and its subject, Cassandra?
Cass shared with me that during her footy halftime break, one of her twins was clamouring for attention, wanting to be fed. She was surrounded by her footy mates and frustrated that she couldn’t fully enjoy that time with them, despite having played one of her best games that day.
I have worked in male-dominated industries and can resonate with the challenges that come with being a working mother. It’s often isolating, and yet we maintain our drive and resilience, navigating a path that acknowledges both our professional ambitions and the complexities of motherhood.
Half Time captures this beautifully—with her casual breastfeeding, the vibrant orange background, and her calm expression, Cass embodies a subtle queen-like resilience. Every element in the painting conveys great power within these seemingly ordinary moments.
You also mentioned a tension experienced by athlete-mothers between personal ambition and caregiving. Is this something you’ve experienced as a mother? How about as an artist?
Absolutely. Throughout my career, I have worked in demanding roles with minimal time off, often feeling the pressure to return to work to maintain my career and sense of self-worth. During those early years, my art took a backseat. It wasn’t until I found a balance between motherhood, my career, and my artistic aspirations that I began to feel a sense of equilibrium.
Many mothers experience guilt for pursuing their interests, whether they be work, sports, art, or fitness. What truly excites me about art now is that my boys are old enough to engage with me in the creative process, and my youngest is even starting to explore art himself. This allows me to use my artistic journey as a means to connect with them further.
You’re actually working on a series titled Women In Sport. Can you tell us a little about that? What can we expect?
The Women In Sport series originated a few years ago when my twin sister would send me snapshots from her weekend games, sometimes showcasing injuries, other times highlighting her tackling prowess on the field. This sparked my desire to blend my passion for diversity, inclusion, and equity with my art in a celebration of women’s sports.
I feel that women are just beginning to emerge in the sports world, and while we’re starting to see a shift, there’s much work to be done. Ideally, we’ll reach a point where women’s sports are recognised with the same respect as men’s, featuring equal coverage and resources.
Imagine how society could evolve to embrace women’s sports with the same enthusiasm and how motherhood, breastfeeding, and pumping would be normalised rather than stigmatised.
Can you speak to any other interests that Women In Sport explores?
Women In Sport aims to illuminate the narratives that often remain obscured in mainstream sports discussions. Each portrait will highlight a woman athlete, blending personal stories with themes such as motherhood, strength, and resilience.
The series will also celebrate the diverse strengths, skills, and beauty found in athletes of all shapes and sizes, moving away from the narrow definitions of beauty often portrayed in mainstream media.
By capturing their journeys, triumphs, and challenges, I hope to amplify their voices and experiences. My goal is to challenge stereotypes and encourage a deeper appreciation for the complexities of womanhood in sports, making it clear that these stories deserve to be celebrated.
Logan’s portrait and artist statement are available to view online at thelesterprize.com along with the other award winners. She will be announcing her Women In Sport exhibition on her socials in early 2026.
You can also check out our article where we broke down each winner for 2025, including the judges’ comments.
About The Lester Prize
The Lester Prize is Australia’s most prestigious portraiture prize, offering an impressive $135,000 prize pool.
The 2025 event attracted record visitation and the highest number of entries ever seen.
The 2026 Youth Awards have already opened for submission and are open until March 5. These awards encourage the creative talents of young artists and are open to all high school students across Australia.
