© National Portrait Gallery 2026
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196
National Photographic Portrait Prize 2026 Finalist
‘Blak & Bare is a reclamation for First Nations people. It depicts the strength, resilience and sovereignty of every single one of us. Venita Mooney (the model) is a Yuwi, Meriam Mir and South Sea Islander woman. Her natural essence is one of softness, fierceness and inspiration. She is connected to her culture and is an artist at heart. Surrounded by the sea, bare, she shows that no matter what way the tide pulls, against or for us, we are still here. Our culture will never die. We still live on and continue to tell our stories.’
Tiarni Majid-Loban is a proud Wuthathi woman with connections to the Torres Strait who lives and works on Yuwi Country/Mackay, Queensland. In her photography practice she focuses on family and connection to place, documenting the present for the future.
The People’s Choice Award is generously supported by the Calvert-Jones Foundation, with the artist who wins the most votes receiving $10,000.
Voting closes Wednesday 30 September 2026.
from Saturday 22 August
The National Photographic Portrait Prize 2026 marks the end of one of the Gallery’s longest-running exhibitions.
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