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.