Entries are now open for the Portia Geach Memorial Award 2026, Australia’s most prestigious portrait prize for women artists.
Presented annually by the S.H. Ervin Gallery, the $30,000 non-acquisitive award recognises the best portrait painted from life by a woman artist depicting a person distinguished in the fields of art, literature or science.
Established in memory of Australian artist and women’s rights advocate Portia Geach, the award continues to champion excellence in portraiture while supporting the careers of women artists across Australia.
Finalists will also be eligible for the $1,000 People’s Choice Award.
Prize
- $30,000 Portia Geach Memorial Award (Non-acquisitive)
- $1,000 People’s Choice Award
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be a woman artist.
- Be an Australian citizen, British-born or naturalised Australian.
- Be resident and domiciled in Australia.
- Submit a portrait painted from life of a person distinguished in Art, Letters or the Sciences.Image: LORI PENSINI
