We’re honoured and delighted to announce the expert judging panel for The Lester Prize Youth Awards 2026.
This year’s panel will bring their unique experience to the competition. They will select the winners for the 2026 Youth Awards which will be exhibited at the Old Gaol Building in the Western Australian Museum Boola Bardip from 24 April – 19 July 2026.
Sarah McBride is a practicing artist based in Perth, WA. She is primarily recognised as a portrait artist who focuses on challenging outdated social norms and stereotypes through her artworks.
She has a BA double major in visual art and writing and literature from Edith Cowan University and has been teaching painting workshops in WA for the last 10 years.
Sarah has been a finalist in many Australian national portraiture and art prizes such as the Doug Moran, Lester Prize, Shirley Hannan and the Collie Art Prize. She has contributed to various group exhibitions including Southwest Art Now, WA portrait Artists, the 24th Japan International Art Exchange Exhibition and had solo exhibitions such as Restoration which was exhibited at the Bunbury Regional Art Gallery.
She is currently the chair of the WA Portrait Artists; an association of recognised artists that host group exhibitions and events to showcase the diversity of interpretation that make up the genre of portraiture.
Lester Prize Finalist (2025) Ross Potter is a Kamilaroi man and professional artist living in Walyalup / Fremantle.
He works with pencil and paper to produce highly detailed, often large-scale representations of his subjects. Through magnifying microscopic features, Ross brings the abstractions of reality to our attention, while telling compelling stories of everyday life.
One of his most well-known works is a life-sized drawing of Perth Zoo’s beloved elephant Tricia, which he created in the gallery during Fremantle Arts Centre’s hugely popular kids’ exhibition Animaze: Amazing Animals for Kids in 2018. Ross’ work has also been presented in numerous exhibitions and was shown in the Fremantle Biennale and at Boola Bardip WA Museum.
Ross has works in numerous collections, and has undertaken multiple artist residencies including at Cossack, Margaret River and Herhùsid in Iceland.
Casey Temby is a Perth-based visual artist, curator, and arts administrator with a multidisciplinary background spanning fine art, scenic art, public art, and exhibition delivery. Trained as a scenic artist at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and qualified in Interior Architecture, she brings strong visual literacy, spatial awareness, and a deep understanding of colour, materials, and mark-making when reviewing portrait work.
Casey has extensive experience across exhibition curation, exhibition management, exhibition design, and artwork installation, and currently works in arts consultancy and exhibition delivery. Her professional practice combines creative production with arts administration, supporting both artists and audiences through high-quality exhibitions and public programs.
Alongside her creative practice, Casey has facilitated art workshops for children and adolescents, fostering technical skill development, confidence, and personal expression in emerging artists. Her own work spans painted and drawn portraiture, murals, public art, and live art performance, informed by early training in theatre where lighting, composition, and narrative play a central role.
Since her first solo exhibition in Sydney in 2009, Casey has exhibited widely across Sydney, Darwin, and Perth. Her combined experience as an artist, educator, and arts administrator provides a thoughtful, supportive, and well-informed perspective for youth portrait awards.
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