A Melbourne-based painter has won Australia’s most prestigious art award, the Archibald Prize, for his portrait of a female aboriginal artist and “traditional healer”.
Richard Lewer took home the $100,000 prize for his piece titled Iluwanti Ken, which is also the subject’s name and was painted after he spent time with Ken on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands in South Australia, The Art Gallery of NSW announced on Friday.
Ken was also a finalist in the gallery’s $50,000 Wynne Prize, which is awarded to the best landscape painting of Australian scenery in oils or watercolours or for the best example of figure sculpture by Australian artists, but lost out to another aboriginal artist, Gaypalani Wanambi.
Wanambi’s etching on metal, The Wanambi Tree, depicts “Wuyal”, a mythical figure of the Marrakulu clan of the Yolngu people of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.
Lewer, who was born in New Zealand in 1970 and moved to Melbourne in 1996, said despite being a finalist many times he never expected to win.
“I am really proud, both for Iluwanti and for myself. I feel deeply humbled to have won the Archibald Prize, and especially happy that this recognition brings a spotlight to Iluwanti, which was always my intention with this portrait,” he said.
Iluwanti is the most beautiful woman, and it was a complete treat to spend time with her and to be able to paint her on country. I hope this work recognises her role as a healer, artist and custodian of the knowledge she carries and so generously shares.”
Art Gallery of NSW director Maud Page said: “Richard Lewer has a seemingly spontaneous and instinctual practice, but he has a masterful control of paint.
“He presents Iluwanti Ken as if she’s emerging out of the ochre, with no conventional perspective, yet her presence as both an artist, healer and matriarch is powerfully realised. Her eyes are particularly striking – her gaze is direct and conveys her strength and warmth.”
Header image: Iluwanti Ken, the 2026 Archibald Prize winner (Art Gallery of NSW).
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