The 40 finalists for the Lester Prize for Portraiture 2025 were announced on July 16.
This is the first year in which more than 1000 entries were received from around Australia, representing some of the leading portrait artists in the nation. Applicants are reviewed by a panel of judges with no knowledge of the artist, so that the art is judged on merit alone, removing bias and giving talented newcomers the same chance as established artists.
The 40 finalists will compete for a prize pool worth over $130 000, with the winners to be displayed at the WA Museum Boola Bardip from September 19, 2025. For an invitation to the opening, and for exclusive invitations to other great exhibitions during the year, join The Lester Collective.
Bundy Bannerman, Bundy in Kangaroo Clothing, 2025. Acrylic on copper, 49 x 35 cmAnne McCaughey, She Didn’t See It Coming, 2025. Oil on canvas, 150 x 100cm
Daniel Butterworth, elly may barnes thinking of dadda, 2025. Acrylic house paint on cardboard, 180 x 118 cmGola Marta, I see myself more clearly in the shadows, 2025. Oxide and underglaze on clay tile fired to 1300 celsius, 40 x 30.5cm
Amy Hamilton, Open Door, 2024. Mixed media; knitting, collage and oil paint, 140 x 180 cm
Melissa Clements, Yoshio Honjo against Vermillion, 2025. Oil on panel, 120 x 100 cmIsabelle Chouinard, Self-portrait with a still life, 2024. Oil on linen, 56 x 51 cm
Mark Dober, Self-portrait, with white jumper, 2024. Oil on canvas, 60 x 50 cm
Elizabeth Barden, Hugh, 2024. Oil on linen, 46 x 40 cm
Lori Pensini, Bare Earth #2, 2025. Oil on linen, 88 x 150 cm
Chelinay Gates, Wednesday, 2025. Acrylic on canvas, 152.4 x 122 cm
Corinna Howell, The tide’s beginning to turn, 2024. Oil on panel, 118 x 89 cm
Sue Eva, Sue’s Space, 2025. Acrylic on canvas, 51 x 51 cm
Doreen Chapman, May Chapman Doing A Painting, 2025. Acrylic on linen, 91 x 91 cm
Jason Roberts, Portrait of a Chef, Joseph Abboud, 2025. Oil on canvas, 100 x 150 cm
David Griffith, Leonie Sheedy (the old boiler), 2025. Oil on canvas, 127.5 x 102 cmJessica Logan, Half Time, 2025. Oil on canvas, 120 x 90 cm
Sophie Hann, Tsering, 2025. Oil on wood panel, 102 x 76 cm.Loribelle Spirovski, Fatherhood, 2024. Oil on canvas, 180 x 90 cm
David Wells, After the clouds, the sun, 2025. Acrylic on canvas, 50 x 100 cm
Philip James Mylecharane, Self as fiction and reality, 2025. Oil on board, 30 x 25 cmMica Pillemer, Self-portrait without her, 2025. Oil on linen, 91.5 x 91.5 cm
Liam Nunan, Home sick, 2024. Oil on canvas, 61 x 50 cmFiona McMonagle, Eve #2, 2025. Acrylic on canvas, 153 x 138 cm
Sarah McBride, Reflection, 2025. Oil on panel, 46 x 61 cm
Christopher R. Inwood, Brad Dad, 2024. Oil, acrylic, charcoal on wood, 91 x 60 cmJon Potter, Stunt Mullet (Gentrifuckation), 2024. Oil on board, 30.5 x 20.8 cm
Chelsea Gustafsson, GUSTAF, 2025. Oil on polyester, 35.5 x 25.5 cmIgnacio Rojas, Son of the storm. Oil on polycotton, 40 x 30 cm
Gene Hart-Smith, Family on Danger Island, 2024. Oil on canvas, 152 x 102 cm
Ross Potter, Cost of living, 2025. Mixed media on eggshell, 6 x 4 cmVicki Sullivan, Ronni Kahn, 2024. Oil on linen, 90 x 70 cm
Micca Young, Lead Me To Where it is Pure, 2025. Oil on wood panel, 60 x 60 cmSid Pattni, Inheritance and invention, 2025. Oil, acrylic and gold leaf on canvas, 76 x 61 cm
Jenny Rodgerson, Self-portrait, 2025. Oil on canvas, 60 x 40 cm
Jenna Pickering, Unwanted, 2025. Oil on rusty can, 15 x 9 cmMorgan Stokes, Eliza, 2024. Watercolour on linen, 197 x120 cm
Joan Peters, Drop-ins with Marjorie, 2025. Mixed media, 77 x 63 cmSylvia Wilson, My Daughter (Great Grandmother), 2025. Acrylic on canvas, 122 x 76 cm.
Tym Yee, YEE THE BOYS, 2025. Oil on aluminium, 160 x 120 cm
