Gamilaraay musician Thelma Plum on Wilyakali Country. This photo is a finalist in the 2025 National Photographic Portrait Prize. Photo: Em Jensen.
Now in its 18th year, the National Photographic Portrait Prize supports and celebrates photographic portraiture in Australia. Each year the prize attracts thousands of entrants from emerging and established artistic talent across the country. Exhibited artworks provide a powerful visual record of the year, reflecting a particular time in Australian culture, both socially and artistically.
This year, 48 finalists have been selected by the panel of judges – writer and broadcaster Benjamin Law, Senior Curator at the National Portrait Gallery Serena Bentley, and Leigh Robb, Curator of Contemporary Art at the Art Gallery of South Australia.
The winner will be announced on 15 August.
The winner receives a prize of $30,000 cash courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery and $20,000 worth of equipment courtesy of Imaging Partner Canon Australia. The Art Handlers’ Award winner receives $3,000 courtesy of IAS Logistics and the People’s Choice Award winner will receive $10,000 courtesy of the Calvert-Jones Foundation. This year, the Gallery will award a First Time Finalist Award, with the winner receiving $3,000 courtesy of EIZO. All finalists receive artist and copyright fees as well as all costs covered for freight and travel.
Finalist works will be exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery from 16 August – 12 October 2025, before touring nationally.
The Details
What: National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025
When: Saturday 16 August from 10 am to 5 pm
Where: National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Cost: Adult $15 / Concession $12 / Circle of Friends $10 / Under 18 Free. Buy tickets.
