Tonight the Western Australian Museum Boola Bardip played host to the opening of The Lester Prize for 2024, a prestigious event that celebrates the best in Australian portraiture.
We are thrilled to share that Ben Howe was announced as the overall winner, taking home The Richard Lester Prize for Portraiture, accompanied by the $50,000 cash award. His piece captivated the judges with its depth and creativity. Howe’s piece, titled Cartagena Library, is a striking oil on board capturing friends Ramon and Matthew reimagined and offering a glimpse into an alternate life, blending reality with the impression of a hazy memory.
Vicki Sullivan and Dylan Jones earned Highly Commended awards for their exceptional work. Jenna Pickering stood out as the winner of the Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize, receiving $5,000 cash and recognition for her promising artistic future. Rachael Robb was awarded the Barton Family Foundation Installers’ Prize, with a $10,000 cash prize, chosen by the installation team at the museum for her outstanding portrait. Lucinda Tassone was honoured with the Minderoo Foundation Spirit Prize, a $10,000 cash award given by the Minderoo Foundation for her powerful and emotive work.
While the Artist Choice award will be announced in the coming days, the public now has the opportunity to vote for the People’s Choice Prize, which comes with a $15,000 cash award generously donated by the Baldock Family. This will be revealed on 27 November, once public votes are tallied.
If you weren’t able to attend the opening, you still have a chance to engage with the artists at the Opening Weekend floor talks tomorrow and on Sunday from 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm. This is a rare opportunity to hear the finalists speak about their creative processes and the stories behind their works. On Saturday, you’ll hear from artists such as Jenna Pickering and Lucinda Tassone, as well as many other finalists, while Sunday will feature talks from Cassie Rowe, Jenna Pickering and Sarah Anthony, among others.
If you feel inspired to try your hand at portraiture, there are also a series of Artist Workshops being held throughout the exhibition period. Led by finalists from this year’s prize, these workshops offer an opportunity to learn watercolour, oil painting, and mixed media techniques from some of Australia’s leading contemporary portrait artists. For those looking to deepen their creative practice, it’s a fantastic chance to learn from the best. Find out more and register here!
