Finalists’ names have been announced for the 18th annual National Photographic Portrait Prize, which showcases the works of emerging and established photographic artists.


This year’s judges, from left: writer and broadcaster Benjamin Law, Senior Curator at the National Portrait Gallery Serena Bentley, and Leigh Robb, Curator of Contemporary Art at the Art Gallery of South Australia. (Source: National Portrait Gallery.)

Each year the prize attracts thousands of entrants from across the country. Exhibited artworks provide a powerful visual record of the year, reflecting a particular time in Australian culture, both socially and artistically. This year, 48 finalists have been selected by the panel of judges – writer and broadcaster Benjamin Law, Senior Curator at the National Portrait Gallery Serena Bentley, and Leigh Robb, Curator of Contemporary Art at the Art Gallery of South Australia. Their names are as follows:

Basil Abubaker Dion Georgopoulos David Prichard
Hoda Afshar Natalie Grono Sherry Quiambao
Jeff Andersen Jnr. Jennie Groom Marcus Rowsell
Luke Austin Bri Hammond Derek Sargent
T W Baker Jodie Harris Matt Sav
Neil Bennett Prue Hazelgrove Renae Saxby
Paul Blackmore The Huxleys Raoul Slater
Tanja Bruckner Em Jensen Stuart Spence
Torrey Bruinstroop Ayman Kaake Dida Sundet
Michael Cook Luke David Kellett Kristian Taylor-Wood
Ryan Dandelion Nur Aishah Kenton & Anna Jourdant Tobias Titz
Gerwyn Davies Sean Kinchela Hilary Wardhaugh
ABBIE DAVIS Tiarni Majid-Loban Georgia Wilde
Shoufay Derz Enzo Frisini Emmaline Zanelli
Yask Desai Mary-Lou Orliyarli Divilli Tom Zust
George Fetting Rebecca Polonski Laura Zviedre
Enzo Frisini    

The winner will receive a prize of $30,000 cash courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery and $20,000 worth of equipment courtesy of Imaging Partner Canon Australia. The Art Handlers’ Award winner will receive $3000 courtesy of IAS Logistics and the People’s Choice Award winner will receive $10,000 courtesy of the Calvert-Jones Foundation. All finalists receive artist and copyright fees as well as all costs covered for freight and travel. Finalist works will be exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery from 16 August – 12 October 2025, before touring nationally. Click here for more information.