Life-size portrait of Pitjantjatjara elder Iluwanti Ken wins Archibald for artist Richard Lewer

A portrait of Pitjantjatjara elder Iluwanti Ken has bagged Richard Lewer Australia’s biggest portrait award, the $100,000 Archibald Prize.

Artist Richard Lewer has won the 2026 Archibald Prize with a life-size portrait of Pitjantjatjara elder, Iluwanti Ken.

His subject is herself a senior artist and traditional healer, and a finalist in the 2026 Wynne Prize, and Lewer said he spent time with Iluwanti Ken in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands of South Australia.

“In person, Iluwanti is a small woman, but she carries immense, quiet authority,” Lewer said.

“I painted her life‑size, so her presence meets the viewer directly. The yellow ochre background holds the intensity of the heat and light we were working in.”

The winner of Australia’s premier portrait prize was announced at the Art Gallery of NSW on Friday, chosen from 1034 entries, which were whittled down to 59 finalists.

The Sulman Prize went to Lucy Culliton for a portrait of one of her many pet greyhounds, titled Toolah, artist model.

Gaypalani Wanambi won the Wynne Prize with a work titled The Wanambi tree, executed in spray paint on etched steel.

The portrait competition has been running for more than a century, and as has become tradition, a long list of famous Australians posed as subjects for the 2026 edition. They include Governor-General Sam Mostyn and actors Marta Dusseldorp, Susie Porter and Sheridan Harbridge.

There’s also musician Mick Turner, surfer Layne Beachley, fashion designers Nicky and Simone Zimmermann, and Alemais founder Lesleigh Jermanus.

Artist Sean Layh has already won the $3000 Packing Room Prize with his portrait of actor Jacob Collins as Hamlet.

The winners and finalists in all prizes will be on show at the Art Gallery of NSW until August 16 before touring regional NSW and Victoria.