Opening night. Photo: Geoff Vivian.
It is one of Australia’s richest art prizes, and Esperance residents are fortunate enough to be able to see a selection of its finest entries without travelling to a city.
The 2024 Lester Prize for Portraiture is on display at the Cannery Arts Centre until July 20 as part of its regional touring program.
A prize pool of more than $130,000 attracts new and established artists from across the country.
As a result, the prize showcases not only the breadth of Australian contemporary portraiture, but the remarkable quality of work many of the exhibitors show.
This is a tribute to the unsung heroes of the Cannery, who over several decades have perfected the track lighting and flexible display systems that make it possible to show subtle works to full effect.
Sponsorships by the Mt Burdett Foundation and Esperance Ag Fund is also much appreciated to defray the cost of bringing such a prestigious show to Esperance, which is not cheap.
Meanwhile, portrait artists are invited to submit their entries in the Lester Prize 2025, with entries accepted until June 19.
