In an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and the rapid proliferation of images, the biennial Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award takes on particular relevance. At a time when likeness can be simulated instantly, the Award foregrounds the enduring value of human observation, technical skill, and interpretation. It affirms portraiture as a slow, deliberate and deeply human undertaking – one grounded in attention, intimacy, care and exchange between artist and sitter, and in the fragile, complex act of seeing and being seen.
The Award is distinctive in its focus – all works must depict the subject accurately and without abstraction, representing a living person known to the artist and aware of the process. This commitment to realistic portrait painting has defined the Award since its inception and continues to distinguish it within the national portrait prize landscape. Previous recipients include Lucy Culliton, Shaun Gladwell and Sally Robinson.
The Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award is one of Australia’s major prizes for realistic portraiture. The $50,000 biennial award is non-acquisitive and is among the higher-value portrait prizes in the country, attracting hundreds of entries from many of the nation’s leading artists.
We thank the generosity of our Award patron Peter Hannan.
For the 2026 Award, several changes have been introduced to better support artists. The entry fee has been reduced, and finalists will receive an artist loan fee, along with a contribution towards artwork freight costs.
Entries open 8 July and close 9 Oct 2026
Image credit: Ignacio Rojas, Healing the Incurable (detail), 2024, oil on canvas, 80 x 60 cm. Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award 2024 finalist. Image courtesy the artist.
ENTRIES CLOSE: TUESDAY 6 OCTOBER 2026, MIDNIGHT.
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