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Richard Lewer wins Archibald Prize for portrait of traditional healer Iluwanti Ken

Friday, 8 May 2026, 07:24 · 1 min read

Melbourne-based artist Richard Lewer has won the Archibald Prize (Australia's most prestigious annual portrait award) for his life-sized painting of Iluwanti Ken, a senior Anangu artist and ngangkari, or traditional healer. Lewer travelled to Amata in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands (a remote Indigenous territory in South Australia) to spend time with Ken before completing the work, which presents her against a vivid yellow ochre background that her supporters say captures her quiet authority and cultural significance. The prize was announced at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, where Ken herself attended and was seen sitting beside her portrait to widespread acclaim.

Sources
The ConversationRichard Lewer wins Archibald Prize with radiant portrait of traditional healer Iluwanti Ken ↗︎
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