Melbourne artist Jenny Rodgerson took home the top prize at this year's Lester Prize for Portraiture, receiving $50,000 for her compelling oil painting titled "Self Portrait." The award was presented during the opening night celebration at the Western Australia Museum Boola Bardip, where Australian artists and art enthusiasts gathered to celebrate the country's most prestigious portraiture competition.

Rodgerson's winning artwork impressed judges with its raw portrayal of strength and vulnerability. Judge Christopher Allen praised the piece for displaying "a rare blend of vulnerability, courage and defiance." He described it as "a strong, honest and courageous self-portrait in which Jenny Rodgerson confronts her own image in the mirror without posing or flattering herself in any way."

Allen emphasized the artwork's authenticity, noting that "it has the truthfulness and penetration that can only be found in working directly from life, and the vulnerability entailed in this kind of raw self-examination is poignantly expressed by the artist's nakedness." The judge's comments highlighted the courage required for such honest self-representation in art.

The opening night ceremony also recognized several other talented artists across various categories. Sue Eva received the Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize for "Sue's Space," while Sylvia Wilson was honored with the Minderoo Foundation Spirit Prize for "My Daughter (Great Grandmother)." Gene Hart-Smith won the Barton Family Foundation Installers Prize for "Family on Dangar Island."

Additional awards included the Tony Fini Foundation Artist Prize, which went to Ignacio Rojas for "Son of the Storm," and the Eyewall Foundation Highly Commended Prize, awarded to Sophie Hann for "Tsering." The Baldock Family People's Choice Prize remains open for public voting throughout the exhibition period, allowing visitors to participate in the selection process.

This year's competition attracted a record-breaking 1,024 submissions, marking the highest number since the prize's inception. Lester Prize Executive Director Shannon Yujnovich expressed amazement at both the quantity and diversity of entries received. "It never ceases to amaze how creativity finds its outlet," she said. "We never know what to expect, but the breadth of variety in this year's submissions was truly amazing."

The submissions demonstrated remarkable creativity in both scale and medium, ranging from works nearly two meters in length to pieces just 15 centimeters in size. Yujnovich noted the innovative materials used by artists, including "knitted submissions, works in media such as acrylic and oils painted on linen to cardboard, and two portraits painted on materials we've never seen before – an egg, and a crumpled and discarded beer can – from all corners of metropolitan and regional Australia."

The Lester Prize, previously known as the Black Swan Prize for Portraiture until its 2017 renaming in honor of leading patron Richard Lester, has rapidly established itself as one of Australia's most recognized and prestigious art awards. The competition's growing reputation reflects the increasing quality and diversity of Australian portraiture.

With a prize pool exceeding $130,000, the Lester Prize now boasts the richest award pool in the country, particularly following the Minderoo Foundation's decision to double their contribution in 2024. This substantial financial support demonstrates the commitment to supporting Australian artists and promoting excellence in portraiture.

In 2025, the competition secured additional backing through a three-year partnership with Westpac worth $90,000, further strengthening its support for Australian artists. This partnership ensures the prize's continued growth and its ability to attract high-quality submissions from across the nation.

The exhibition featuring all finalist works will remain on display at the WA Museum Boola Bardip until November 16, giving art lovers and the general public an opportunity to view the diverse range of contemporary Australian portraiture. The extended exhibition period allows for comprehensive public engagement with the artworks and continued voting for the People's Choice Prize.