View artworks from the 40 finalists of the Lester Prize for portraiture
Updated: 30 Jul 2024
Madeline Frayne
The Lester Prize for portraiture is back with another incredible opportunity to see the artworks of the 40 finalists from September 14 to November 17.
The Lester Prize is one of Australia’s most prestigious portraiture prizes with an annual prize pool of $111,000 across 7 categories, making it one of the nation’s richest and most recognised art prizes. 2024 is a particularly exciting year, because for the first time ever, all the finalists’ artworks will be displayed in the WA Museum Boola Bardip in Northbridge.
The top 40 artworks are chosen from almost 800 entries, but what makes The Lester Prize unique is that finalists are selected by a panel with no knowledge of the artists’ names or background, providing up-and-coming local talent with an equal chance to compete on a national stage. This year 16 of the 40 finalists are from WA.
Here are all the artworks.
Clear Skies by Liz Gridley, 2023. Oil on arched wood panel, 50cmNotting hill – Self portrait by Brenton Drechsler, 2024. Oil on canvas, 152 x 122cm49 by Chee Yong, 2024. Oil on wood panel, 10 x 10 cmArt by Throwaway, 2024. Acrylic on canvas, 121 x 151 cmLydia waiting by Peter Wegner, 2023. Oil on board, 30 x 30cmSenior Gija elder, the very last man of his generation – Mr Patrick Mung Mung by Peter Thomas. Encaustic painting, natural beeswax, charcoal and traditional ochre on pvc board, 45 x 60cmBrown man, white paper by Ravi Prasad, 2023. Pencil and watercolour on paper, 59 x 42cmWendy by Sharon Warrie, 2024. Pencil and pastel on paper, 40 x 30cmThe dying slave – portrait of andrew nicholls by Daevid Anderson, 2024. Oil on board, 89 x 49 cmSabrina by Stephanie Sheppard, 2024. Oil on canvas, 80 x 60cmTogether as one by Jenna Pickering, 2023. Oil on paperbark, 13 x 6cmWhat lies beneath by Stefano Flonta, 2024. Watercolour on paper, 76 x 56cmMark the midwife by Jennifer D’Arcy, 2024. Oil on canvas, 91 x 120cmCartagena library by Ben Howe, 2023. Oil on board, 50 x 60 cmFiona with walkabout wickets by Vicki Sullivan, 2024. Oil on linen, 79 x 63cmNighthawks by Kristina Lynch, 2024. Oil on canvas, 101.6 x 76.2cmFragments of memories – moments together by Jiali Jiang, 2024. Acrylic on canvas, 190 x 152cmA Place in the Sun by Fiona White, 2023. Mixed media on board, 80 x 114cmSenior Gija elder – Mr Gordon Barney by Jonathon Malgil, 2024. Traditional ochre on canvas, 100 x 100cmSelf portrait everyone can be pussy riot by Kate Just, 2023. Hand-knitted wool acrylic yarn, timber, canvas, 72 x 62cmSelf portrait with bird by Rachel Robb, 2023. Oil on clayboard, 30 x 40 cm
Conversations with my mother by Sarah Anthony, 2024. Oil on canvas, 79 x 59cmI have something to tell you by Dylan Jones, 2023. Oil on Board, 60 x 55cmIs it Christmas? by Mia Janney, 2024. Bio pen and coloured pencil on paper, 76.2 x 50.8 cmLucy and Lacey (portrait of Lucy Culliton) by Victoria Reichelt, 2024. Oil on linen, 120 x 100cmLoom state by Blake Griffiths, 2024. Dye on linen, 100 x 66cmSenior Gija elder, the last of his generation – Mr Patrick Mung Mung by Dwane Jessell, 2024. Lino print on paper, 55 x 45cmTerri Lew by Caitlyn Taylor, 2024. Oil on canvas, 150 x 95cmThird culture kid by Steph Jowett, 2024. Oil on unique topographical wood plate, 55 x47 cmShirley by Cassie Rowe, 2023. Oil on linen canvas, 80 x 60cmThree Winsalls by Ruby Smedley, 2023. Oil on board, 118 x 84.5cmA lot on her chest by Isabelle Otto, 2024. Oil on canvas, 76 x 56cmCaroline, lost by Katie Masonwells, 2024. Coloured pencil on paper, 56 x 76cmYou can call me Viktor Stronger by Sue Strizek, 2024. Pen and paint sticks on paper, 30 x 21cmPortrait of Marikit Santiago by Sid Pattni, 2023. Oil and synthetic polymer on canvas, 152 x 122cmI love fast food by Lucinda Tassone, 2024. Oil on masonite, 122 x 91cmMum’s orange cardigan by Jenny Rodgerson, 2024. Oil on linen, 60 x 40cmSelf portrait lost in hay street by Matthew Clarke, 2023. Acrylic on linen, 195 x 95cmSolace by Adoni Astrinakis, 2024. Oils and 24kt gold on canvas, 152 x 122cmFools gold – Australian Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers by Christopher Malouf, 2023. Acrylic on canvas, 140 x 90cm
