The Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) named Richard Lewer the winner of the 2026 Archibald Prize on May 8. Lewer, a New Zealand-born, Melbourne-based artist and six-time finalist, won the AU$100,000 prize for his life-size portrait of Pitjantjatjara elder, senior artist, and traditional healer Iluwanti Ken. The jury of AGNSW trustees selected the work unanimously from 59 finalists culled from 1,034 entries. Additional prizes were awarded: Gaypalani Waṉambi won the Wynne Prize for The Waṉambi tree, Lucy Culliton won the Sulman Prize for Toolah, artist model, and Sean Layh won the Packing Room Prize for his portrait of actor Jacob Collins.
The Archibald Prize is Australia's top portrait honor, and this year's award highlights the growing recognition of Indigenous artists and subjects in the country's cultural mainstream. Lewer's portrait of Iluwanti Ken, a senior Aboriginal artist and healer, underscores the prize's role in elevating diverse voices and stories. The accompanying Wynne and Sulman prizes further showcase the breadth of Australian art, from abstract landscapes to genre painting. The exhibition of all winners and finalists at AGNSW from May 9 through August 16 offers the public a comprehensive view of contemporary Australian portraiture and landscape painting.