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

‘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’, Richard Lewer
oil on epoxy-coated steel
80.5 x 141 cm
Finalist Sulman prize 2019