Richard Lewer After the Archibald Win + Excerpts from Our 2025 Conversation

Watch a 2 minute highlights video of this episode on the YouTube channel here

In this special episode of Talking with Painters, I’m bringing you my conversation with Richard Lewer recorded shortly after he was announced as the winner of the 2026 Archibald Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Richard won Australia’s most prestigious portrait prize for his powerful portrait of artist and Pitjantjatjara elder Iluwanti Ken, a striking full-length painting set against a powerful ochre background inspired by time spent with Iluwanti on country.

I also share some of my favourite parts from my longer 2025 conversation with Richard, where he talks about growing up in New Zealand, using art as a form of escape as a child, painting deeply personal works about family and grief, and creating his exhibition Steve, currently showing at the National Gallery of Australia. Along the way we also discuss this year’s Wynne and Sulman Prize winners, including works by Gaypalani Wanambi and Lucy Culliton.

Links

Video highlights on YouTube

Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes Exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW

‘Steve’ showing at the National Gallery of Australia

Full 2025 interview with Richard Lewer

Worse luck I’m still here, 2014, video and animation

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‘Iluwanti Ken’ Synthetic plolymer paint on canvas 198cm x 198cm Winner 2026 Archibald Prize Image: Art Gallery of NSW

‘The Waṉambi tree’ by Gaypalani Waṉambi spray paint on etched steel 240cm x 240cm Winner Wynne Prize 2026 Image: Art Gallery of NSW

‘Toolah, artist model’ by Lucy Culliton oil on canvas 137.6 x 137.1cm Winner Sulman Prize 2026 Photo: Art Gallery of NSW

‘We have grave concerns for your father’s health’ oil on epoxy-coated steel 80.5 x 141 cm Finalist Sulman prize 2019