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Elyas Alavi VIC
Dave Carswell TAS
Cathy Franzi ACT
Annette Galstaun NSW
Sam Harrison QLD
Angelina Karadada Boona WA
Damien Shen SA
Wanapati Yunupiŋu NT
The eight finalists have been selected via a competitive open-call submissions process that attracted over 740 entries. One finalist from each state and territory in Australia has been selected by the esteemed judging panel, Tony Albert, Ellie Buttrose, and Elizabeth Fortescue.
“The Artbank Prize is a vital pathway for artists to be acquired by a national institution, and it is this kind of support that ensures artists can continue to make work. The fact that there are over 740 applicants from across the country in this first year of the Artbank Prize is a sign of how important an institutional acquisition is for an artist in the early stages of their career.” Ellie Buttrose
“For me, the acquisition from Artbank early in my career was really seminal in the projection of where I am. And it's just not the acquisition alone. It's the visibility in the aftermath, the way in which the Artbank collection is shared through so many diverse audiences, in public places outside of a traditional museum – Artbank art reaches everybody.” Tony Albert
“The Artbank Prize is a great reflection of what is happening now in Australian art. A rich cross section of artists, working in a broad spectrum of styles and mediums, each with a unique story to share.” Elizabeth Fortescue
An exhibition featuring the eight finalists will be held at Artbank’s Sydney premises from 3 September 2026 until 30 October 2026, alongside a series of public programs that celebrate the finalists and their works. The Artbank Prize will be awarded to one artist, whose artwork will be acquired into the Artbank collection. The winner of the Artbank Prize will be announced at the official celebration on 3 September 2026.
Zoë Rodriguez, Artbank Director, says: “The inaugural Artbank Prize is an exciting opportunity for Artbank to allow an open call out to Australian artists – a new pathway to a national collection. We are thrilled with the outstanding response with over 740 applications of an extremely high standard. We know how much this opportunity means to artists and we look forward to growing the Artbank Prize to be an important marker on the Australian arts calendar.”
Artbank Prize 2026 Finalists' Exhibition
Exhibition dates Thursday 3 September - Friday 30 October 2026
Prize winner announcement 9:30am Thursday 3 September 2026, Artbank Sydney
Artbank Sydney, 222 Young Street, Waterloo NSW 2017
