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, 50cm
Notting hill – Self portrait by Brenton Drechsler, 2024. Oil on canvas, 152 x 122cm
49 by Chee Yong, 2024. Oil on wood panel, 10 x 10 cm
Art by Throwaway, 2024. Acrylic on canvas, 121 x 151 cm
Lydia waiting by Peter Wegner, 2023. Oil on board, 30 x 30cm
Senior 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 60cm
Brown man, white paper by Ravi Prasad, 2023. Pencil and watercolour on paper, 59 x 42cm
Wendy by Sharon Warrie, 2024. Pencil and pastel on paper, 40 x 30cm
The dying slave – portrait of andrew nicholls by Daevid Anderson, 2024. Oil on board, 89 x 49 cm
Sabrina by Stephanie Sheppard, 2024. Oil on canvas, 80 x 60cm
Together as one by Jenna Pickering, 2023. Oil on paperbark, 13 x 6cm
What lies beneath by Stefano Flonta, 2024. Watercolour on paper, 76 x 56cm
Mark the midwife by Jennifer D’Arcy, 2024. Oil on canvas, 91 x 120cm
Cartagena library by Ben Howe, 2023. Oil on board, 50 x 60 cm
Fiona with walkabout wickets by Vicki Sullivan, 2024. Oil on linen, 79 x 63cm
Nighthawks by Kristina Lynch, 2024. Oil on canvas, 101.6 x 76.2cm
Fragments of memories – moments together by Jiali Jiang, 2024. Acrylic on canvas, 190 x 152cm
A Place in the Sun by Fiona White, 2023. Mixed media on board, 80 x 114cm
Senior Gija elder – Mr Gordon Barney by Jonathon Malgil, 2024. Traditional ochre on canvas, 100 x 100cm
Self portrait everyone can be pussy riot by Kate Just, 2023. Hand-knitted wool acrylic yarn, timber, canvas, 72 x 62cm
Self 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 59cm
I have something to tell you by Dylan Jones, 2023. Oil on Board, 60 x 55cm
Is it Christmas? by Mia Janney, 2024. Bio pen and coloured pencil on paper, 76.2 x 50.8 cm
Lucy and Lacey (portrait of Lucy Culliton) by Victoria Reichelt, 2024. Oil on linen, 120 x 100cm
Loom state by Blake Griffiths, 2024. Dye on linen, 100 x 66cm
Senior Gija elder, the last of his generation – Mr Patrick Mung Mung by Dwane Jessell, 2024. Lino print on paper, 55 x 45cm
Terri Lew by Caitlyn Taylor, 2024. Oil on canvas, 150 x 95cm
Third culture kid by Steph Jowett, 2024. Oil on unique topographical wood plate, 55 x47 cm
Shirley by Cassie Rowe, 2023. Oil on linen canvas, 80 x 60cm
Three Winsalls by Ruby Smedley, 2023. Oil on board, 118 x 84.5cm
A lot on her chest by Isabelle Otto, 2024. Oil on canvas, 76 x 56cm
Caroline, lost by Katie Masonwells, 2024. Coloured pencil on paper, 56 x 76cm
You can call me Viktor Stronger by Sue Strizek, 2024. Pen and paint sticks on paper, 30 x 21cm
Portrait of Marikit Santiago by Sid Pattni, 2023. Oil and synthetic polymer on canvas, 152 x 122cm
I love fast food by Lucinda Tassone, 2024. Oil on masonite, 122 x 91cm
Mum’s orange cardigan by Jenny Rodgerson, 2024. Oil on linen, 60 x 40cm
Self portrait lost in hay street by Matthew Clarke, 2023. Acrylic on linen, 195 x 95cm
Solace by Adoni Astrinakis, 2024. Oils and 24kt gold on canvas, 152 x 122cm
Fools gold – Australian Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers by Christopher Malouf, 2023. Acrylic on canvas, 140 x 90cm



View artworks from the 40 finalists of the Lester Prize for portraiture - Localista

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