Eighty-four artworks from 600 entries have been selected as finalists in the Brisbane Portrait Prize 2023, vying across nine categories for a combined total of $90,000 in prize money, including the highly coveted $50,000 Lord Mayor’s Prize.
Finalists include established and emerging artists, including Jo Furlonger, Fiona Lowry, Tony Albert, Luther Cora, Robert Mercer, Keemon Williams, Dylan Mooney, Darren McDonald, and Joachim Froese.

1. Sharka Bosakova, Hollows and Thorns (UnMasked) (Sitter: Megan Janet White), photograph, 60 x 45cm; 2. Kathy Sullivan, Tradewind Annie (Sitter: Anne Collins), mixed media, 61 x 46cm; 3. Russell Shakespeare, The Artist Kyra Manktelow (Sitters: Kyra Manktelow), photograph, 105 x 80cm; 4. Fiona Kennedy-Altoft, Common Sense Aint that Common (Sitter: Mariam Arcila), oil on canvas, 90 x 70cm; 5. Fiona Lowry, Before the crossroads (Vin age 11) (Sitter: Vincent Orellana), acrylic on canvas, 90 x 70cm; 6. Joseph Furlonger, Dr John Brown (Sitter: Dr John Brown), pigment and binder on linen, 22 x 23cm; 7. Natalya Hughes, The Painter (After Kirchner) (Sitters: Self-Portrait), acrylic on cotton, 153 x 117cm; 8. Tony Albert, Self Portrait (Under the Southern Cross) (Sitter: Self-portrait), acrylic on linen, 100 x 100cm
Some of the more well-known sitters include celebrity chef Alastair McLeod, sculptor Rhyl Hinwood, Australian cricketer Grace Harris, actor Liam Nunan, supermodel of inclusivity Madeline Stuart, and NRL footballer Petero Civoniceva.
The Brisbane Portrait Prize is a contemporary portraiture competition celebrating artists and their sitters and the unique character of Brisbane City while encouraging public engagement with the arts. Any artist with a connection to Brisbane is eligible to enter.
The Brisbane Portrait Prize 2023 finalist exhibition will be on view at Brisbane Powerhouse, Queensland, from 28 September until 29 October, with the winner announced on Tuesday 3 October.
Prizes include:
Lord Mayor’s Prize, $50,000 – all entries into the Brisbane Portrait Prize are eligible.
Accenture Prize for Digital Portraiture, $10,000 – any digitally created still work, including photography, is eligible.
Courier-Mail People’s Choice Award, $7,500 – chosen by popular vote from all the finalists.
Performing Arts and Music Award, $7,500 – open to portraits featuring sitters from the performing arts and music industries.
Sylvia Jones Prize for Women Artists, $5,000
Packer’s Prize, $5,000 – chosen by the team who hang the 2023 finalists exhibition.
Next Gen Prize, $2,000 – for the best portrait by an entrant 18 and under.
Support for Emerging Artists, two $1,000 vouchers
Metro Arts Experimental Portraiture Prize, a two-week exhibition at Metro Arts plus $900 – awarded to one emerging or early career artist with an experimental practice.