National Photographic Portrait Prize

Venue: Geraldton Regional Art Gallery
Location: 24 Chapman Road, Geraldton, WA, 6530
27 Jul - 22 Sep, 2019
Web: https://artgallery.cgg.wa.gov.au/home.aspx

From an outstanding field of more than 3,000 entries, culminating in a shortlist of 39 exceptional finalists, the Winner and Highly Commended entries for this year’s National Photographic Portrait Prize have been named. The Winner for 2019 is Alana Holmberg for her portrait titled Greta in her Kitchen, 36 weeks. The Highly Commended has been awarded to Alex Vaughan for her portrait Sumbawa pride – life on a boat with eleven kids. The People Choice Award went to Kate Atkinson for her portrait, The textile scientist.

The National Photographic Portrait Prize is an annual event intended to promote the very best in contemporary photographic portraiture by both professional and aspiring Australian photographers.

Stephen Dupont, 2018 by Simon Harsent. Finalist. "I first met Stephen Dupont eight years ago; I regard him as one of Australia’s finest photographers. I’ve always found Stephen a very humble and passionate person – sometimes aloof, but in an intriguing way. When I saw his one-man show a few years ago, I saw a different side of him, and it gave me some insight, some partial understanding of the complexities of being a war photographer. To me, this portrait sums up the complex intensity of Stephen. Coincidentally, the sitting took place on September 11th this year (2018), a date in history that holds significance for both of us."

Other venues

Blue Mountains Cultural Centre: Saturday 25th January until Sunday 22nd March 2020.

Upcoming Events Submit an Event

May

Rehearsing the City exhibition

Melbourne: Until March 2027. Rehearsing the City presents archival photographs from Victoria’s government collections, alongside new work by contemporary street photographers.

99 Shiel Street, North Melbourne VIC, Australia Victorian Archives Centre and Gallery | 21 May, 2026 - 31 Mar, 2027

June

Mervyn Bishop: Close Up

Sydney: Until 7 Feb 2027. From his archive of more than 200,000 images, Close Up celebrates the historic moments and pivotal people he famously captured.

1 Shakespeare Place Sydney NSW 2000 State Library of NSW | 1 Jun, 2026 - 7 Feb, 2027

Trent Parke: The Christmas tree bucket

Canberra: Until 6 Sept 2026. Trent Parke’s photographic series The Christmas tree bucket 2006–09 is a tender and darkly humorous portrayal of his extended family coming together to celebrate Christmas.

National Gallery of Australia (NGA) Parkes Place East, Parkes ACT 2600 | 1 Jun - 6 Sep, 2026

Brook Andrew | Rollercoaster: Winhangadurinya in motion

Melbourne: 6 June – 30 August 2026. Brook Andrew is an artist whose conceptual practice shifts across photography, performance, moving image, installation, public space and research, often through deep collaboration with artists & communities.

860 Ferntree Gully Road Wheelers Hill Victoria 3150 Museum of Australian Photography | 6 Jun - 30 Aug, 2026

Through Muninjali eyes: photojournalist Wayne Coolwell

Brisbane: until 18 October 2026. Known affectionately as the ‘Cool Cat of journalism’ Wayne moved effortlessly among the greats, between the media and community, treating every encounter as part of his day’s work behind the lens.

Stanley Place, South Brisbane, QLD 4101 State Library of Queensland | 17 Jun - 18 Oct, 2026

July

Hydrangea Transitions

Melbourne: Until 30 September 2026. Melbourne photographer Stefanie Wendler-Canning is inviting visitors to see one of the garden's most familiar flowers from an entirely different perspective in her new exhibition.

148 Drummond Street, Oakleigh, Vic, 3166 Oakleigh Library | 27 Jul - 30 Sep, 2026

August

Brassaï – Secret Paris

Melbourne: Until 15 November 2026. This exhibition will present the most comprehensive survey of the work of the eminent Hungarian-born, French photographer Brassaï yet to be seen in Australia.

7 Templestowe Rd, Bulleen VIC 3105 Heide Museum of Modern Art | 8 Aug - 15 Nov, 2026

Devotion – Sly Morikawa

Sydney: Until 13 September 2026. Devotion is an ongoing series by Sly Morikawa documenting Sanja Matsuri, the annual Shinto festival held in Tokyo’s Asakusa district.

Level 3 16-28 Foster St Surry Hills, NSW 2010 China Heights | 14 Aug - 13 Sep, 2026

Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Photographic Awards 2026

Brisbane: Until 1 November 2026. The finalist exhibition of the 2026 Lord Mayor’s Photographic Awards brings together striking photographic works that capture the city’s spirit — from familiar streets and riverside scenes to the fleeting moments, routines and characters that make Brisbane feel like home.

Level 3, Brisbane City Hall King George Square, Brisbane 4000 Museum of Brisbane. Level 3, City Hall | 23 Aug - 1 Nov, 2026

Definitive Dupain – a photographic retrospective

Sydney: 24 August 2026 – 18 July 2027. Featuring almost 200 images and original prints personally selected by Dupain for magazine and book publishers, the exhibition reveals the extraordinary breadth of his work.

1 Shakespeare Place Sydney NSW 2000 State Library of NSW | 24 Aug, 2026 - 18 Jul, 2027