Richard Lewer Wins Archibald Prize 2026 for Portrait of Pitjantjatjara Elder Iluwanti Ken

May 10, 2026

Overview

The Archibald Prize 2026 was awarded on 8 May 2026 to Richard Lewer , a Melbourne-based artist. He won for his portrait of Iluwanti Ken , a Pitjantjatjara Elder, senior artist, and traditional healer (ngangkari). The prize comes with $100,000 cash. The winning work was chosen from 1,034 entries . The exhibition of finalist works opened on 9 May 2026 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney and runs until 16 August 2026 .

Richard Lewer Wins Australia’s Top Portrait Prize

On 8 May 2026 , the Archibald Prize was awarded to Richard Lewer . He is an artist from Melbourne. He painted a portrait of Iluwanti Ken , a respected Pitjantjatjara Elder . She is also a senior artist and a ngangkari (traditional healer) from Central Australia. The prize money is $100,000 . The judges selected his work from 1,034 entries .

What Is the Archibald Prize?

The Archibald Prize is a famous Australian portraiture award . It was first given out in 1921 . The prize is administered by the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney . It is awarded every year for the best portrait painting. This is one of Australia's most well-known art prizes.

About the Artist: Richard Lewer

Richard Lewer is not a newcomer to this prize. He has been a finalist six times in the following years:

2017
2020
2021
2022
2025
2026 (winning year)

His consistent presence shows his skill in portrait painting.

About the Subject: Iluwanti Ken

Iluwanti Ken is a Pitjantjatjara Elder . The Pitjantjatjara people are from the A?angu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in South Australia . She is also a senior artist and a ngangkari . Ngangkari is the traditional word for a healer who uses spiritual and natural methods to treat people. Her portrait gives recognition to Indigenous culture and traditional healing practices.

The 2026 Exhibition

The 2026 Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes exhibition opened to the public on 9 May 2026 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney. The exhibition includes 59 finalist works . It will remain open until 16 August 2026 . Visitors can see all the finalist portraits, including the winning one.