Richard Lewer Wins $100,000 Archibald Prize 2026 for Iluwanti Ken
Richard Lewer won the archibald prize 2026 on Friday at the Art Gallery of NSW, taking the $100,000 award for his portrait of Pitjantjatjara elder, traditional healer and senior artist Iluwanti Ken. The decision came from a field of 59 finalists drawn from 1,034 entries, a scale that makes the win more than a personal milestone.
For Lewer, a New Zealand-born, Melbourne-based artist, the result ended a six-time Archibald finalist run and put his name on Australia’s most closely watched portrait prize. The finalist exhibition opens on Saturday.
Maud Page on the win
Maud Page said, “What can be said? You see the picture. You see the strength of it, you see the poise. You see all of the things that we know makes Australia unique in the world.” The gallery director’s reaction matched the panel’s unanimous choice, with the trustees selecting Lewer’s work over a shortlist that also included portraits of Daniel Johns, Jim Moginie, Marta Dusseldorp, Virginia Trioli and Jan Fran.
Michael Rose said the judges were “immediately drawn” to the portrait. He added, “It’s a powerful and energetic portrait by an accomplished artist and has captured the energy of another artist that he admires and respects greatly. You can sense that admiration.”
Iluwanti Ken at Tjala Arts
In his artist statement, Lewer said he spent time with Ken at Tjala Arts in Amata, in the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands of South Australia. He wrote, “Being on Country together deepened my understanding of her presence and the responsibilities she carries.”
He also said, “In person, Iluwanti is a small woman, but she carries immense, quiet authority.” Lewer painted the portrait life-size, at 245.5 x 150 x 90cm, and described the yellow ochre background, bright clothing and traces of paint on her arm as part of the work’s design.
Archibald Prize since 1921
The Archibald Prize has run since 1921 and goes to the best portrait of a person distinguished in art, letters, science or politics painted by an Australian resident. In 2026, self-portraits and portraits of other artists outnumbered every other subject category, which makes Lewer’s choice of Ken stand out in a field that tilted inward.
Friday’s awards also included the $50,000 Wynne Prize and the $40,000 Sulman Prize, but the Archibald result carries the clearest commercial and reputational lift. Lewer now moves from perennial finalist to winner, and the exhibition opening on Saturday gives the public its first chance to see the portrait that carried the judges unanimously.
