Amos Gebhardt wins National Photographic Portrait Prize

Lit entirely by moonlight, Amos Gebhardt’s winning portrait captures acclaimed Waanyi author Alexis Wright peering towards the night sky. © Amos Gebhardt.

The much-anticipated National Photographic Portrait Prize (NPPP) is now in its 17th year and provides a powerful visual record of the year that was, reflecting a particular time in Australian culture, both socially and artistically. Open to both established and emerging artistic talent, the NPPP was conceived by the National Portrait Gallery to support and celebrate photographic portraiture in Australia, and is now a highlight of the Gallery’s annual calendar. Judges Isobel Parker Philip (Portrait Gallery Director Curatorial and Collection), José de Silva (Director of Sydney’s UNSW Galleries and curator of the 18th Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art) and Pippa Milne (Curator PHOTO Australia) have selected 34 finalists works, which will be on display from 22 June until 13 October.  This year’s winner, Amos Gebhardt, is an artist and filmmaker whose practice is focused on challenging dominant narratives around marginality, representation and more-than-human ecologies. Gebhardt was awarded the William and Winifred Bowness Photography Prize in 2022 and was also a finalist in the 2022 National Photographic Portrait Prize. Amos takes home a cash prize of $30,000 from the Gallery and Canon equipment valued at $20,000 courtesy of the Gallery’s Imaging Partner, Canon Australia. Shelley Xue has won the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2024 Art Handlers’ Award for a photograph of her mother after a three week visit following years apart and titled ‘阿谊 (AH YI), 2023’, which is shown below. The artist who receives the most votes in the People’s Choice Award will be awarded $10,000 cash courtesy of the Calvert-Jones Foundation as well as a prize pack from EIZO.

阿谊 (AH YI), 2023, by Shelley Xue, winner of the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2024 Art Handlers’ Award.

This year the National Portrait Gallery made significant changes to the Darling Portrait Prize and the National Photographic Portrait Prize to make the programs accessible, equitable and aligned with the Australian Government’s landmark National Cultural Policy – Revive: a place for every story and a story for every place.  The changes remove all financial barriers to entry, focus upon the artist and ensure access to the Gallery’s programs and opportunities for all.  All finalists have received an artist’s fee of $1200, a copyright and licensing fee of $1000, as well as freight costs and travel allowances to visit the Gallery in Canberra. Click here to see the list of finalists.