Melbourne artist Richard Lewer wins Archibald Prize 2026. The New Zealand-born contemporary painter secured the prestigious AU$100,000 award for his portrait of Pitjantjatjara elder and artist Iluwanti Ken. Lewer, a six-time Archibald finalist, was selected from 1,034 submissions and 59 finalists for his synthetic polymer work. The portrait marks only the fifth First Nations representation to win in the prize's 105-year history, joining previous winners including musician Gurrumul and actor David Gulpilil. Lewer spent a week on Country with Ken and her community in South Australia's APY Lands while creating the work in extreme heat. The victory highlights growing recognition of Indigenous artists in Australia's contemporary art scene and strengthens Lewer's position as a leading portrait artist.
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