The Lester Prize Youth Awards celebrates the unique way young artists see the world, through the faces and stories of the people around them. Portraiture offers an immediate and powerful connection between artist, subject and audience, and for many students it becomes a meaningful way to explore identity, relationships and belonging.
As part of The Lester Prize, the Youth Awards place emerging artists at the centre of a professional exhibition experience. By exhibiting alongside a nationally recognised portrait prize, students are given the opportunity to see their work presented in a respected public forum, fostering pride, confidence and ambition in their creative journey.
We are proud to provide a platform that not only recognises artistic talent, but also champions the voices, perspectives and potential of young people across Australia.
The Lester Prize Youth Awards exhibition is held in the Old Goal building at the Western Australian Museum Boola Bardip from 24 April to 19 July 2026.
Natali Jaros, Embrace, pencil on paper, 30 x 42 cm, Year 11, Presbyterian Ladies’ College, WA.
Judges’ comments provided by Casey Temby, Sarah McBride and Ross Potter:
“Influenced by Futurist principles with echoes of Symbolist and decorative traditions in the mark-making, this artwork is technically accomplished and conceptually rich. It explores textural movement, fragmentation, and emotional tension with confidence and control. The artist skilfully manipulates form and perspective to convey a complex relationship between the figures. Sadness, friction and the fragmented relationship between the sisters is conveyed by the depiction of the subjects in its stylistic rendering. The artist has pulled their forms apart and reconfigured to suggest emotional distance and played with perspective to create a sense of dynamism and depth. There is a subtle luminosity – reminiscent of classical portraiture. It is a very brave and bold creative execution that pushes the boundaries of traditional portraiture.”
Billy Ferguson, Chasing bees, oil on canvas, 81 x 41cm, Year 12, Brisbane State High School, QLD.
Judges’ comments provided by Casey Temby, Sarah McBride and Ross Potter:
“The strong juxtaposition of negative and positive space immediately implies the childhood story of the artist. The contrast between the central, carefully rendered figure and the more naïve imagery in the background creates a layered narrative of growth and recollection. Painting a child’s face is challenging so therefore the artist has shown a developed artistic skill. The elongated composition is used effectively, and the golden yellow colours reinforce a nostalgic atmosphere, conveying a sense of playfulness, and the memory of sunlit, carefree childhood days.”
Kayla Braimbridge, Already at the party, oil on canvas board/mixed media, 77 x 61cm, Year 9, Carine Senior High School, WA.
Judges’ comments provided by Casey Temby, Sarah McBride and Ross Potter:
“Paying homage to the chiaroscuro style of painting, this artwork stood out with its composition, depth of field, use of colours and striking depiction of light against the dark background. It is a nostalgic piece that conveys a story everyone can relate to. The painting takes you back to a time of innocence and the adventure of childhood. The artist’s loose painting style is impressive because of the difficulty in executing it successfully and is a confident choice for a young person to make. The simple palette introduces a layer of warmth and subtle complexity whilst the triangular arrangement of the figures creating a strong sense of compositional stability. The inclusion of 3D media is an interesting addition adding another dimension to the work and enriching the artist’s narrative.”
Lacey Pohle, Into the light, oil on canvas, 64 x 49cm, Year 10, Kawana Waters State College, QLD.
Judges’ comments provided by Casey Temby, Sarah McBride and Ross Potter:
“The dreamlike quality of this painting is full of ambiguity and is impressive in its bold use of dark blues in the negative space. It demonstrates a refined understanding of light and shadow to create a strong sense of mood and atmosphere. The artist’s restrained choice of colour evokes a distinctly Australian sensibility while lending the work a luminous, almost ethereal quality. The use of a side profile is an interesting angle for a portrait, introducing a sense of distance and quiet introspection that makes the viewer want to know more about the subject and her story.”
Laura Niu, Yesterday’s face, soft pastel, 42 x 30cm, Year 8, Rossmoyne Senior Highschool, WA.
Judges’ comments provided by Casey Temby, Sarah McBride and Ross Potter:
“This artwork is beyond its years in maturity, skill and choice of subject matter. The subject’s downward gaze reflects such strong emotion; a person deep in thought as if the whole world is upon his shoulders. Even the stray hairs and the loose strands falling across his face reinforce this downward mood, echoing a sense of heaviness and introspection. His life story is etched across his face, authentic, vulnerable, yet eternal. The artist’s handling of the pastel medium is very impressive in terms of execution in the building up of layers. The ephemeral nature of the subject is reflected in the cool green background juxtaposed against the warm skin tones to reinforce a sense of tension and transience. All the artist’s choices culminate in a very poignant and psychologically resonant portrait.”
Miriam Sekendy, Interrupted thoughts, pencil on paper, 50 x 40cm, Year 8 John XXIII College, WA.
Judges’ comments provided by Casey Temby, Sarah McBride and Ross Potter:
“The technical prowess of the artist is impressive in this artwork. The rendering and highlighting to create texture display a highly skilled hand. A very contemporary choice is evident in terms of what the artist chose to leave out. In a hyper realistic style, it is a brave decision in knowing when to stop and let the work speak for itself. The unfinished part of Interrupted thoughts is particularly meaningful, conveying a sense of uncertainty that reflects the artist’s stage of life and the evolving nature of identity, leaving the viewer to wonder how her future will unfold.”
Idelia Cao, A moment of stillness, acrylic on paper, 43 x 29cm, Year 7, St Andrew’s Cathedral School, NSW.
Judges’ comments provided by Casey Temby, Sarah McBride and Ross Potter:
“The installer was immediately drawn to the quiet, contemplative quality of this work, aptly reflected in its title. The painting demonstrates a notable sense of maturity, with confident brushwork and a sketch-like approach that retains immediacy. The composition captures a moment of introspection, conveyed with sensitivity and restraint.”
Raadin Ebadi, Determination, charcoal on paper, 42 x 59cm, Year 10, Perth Modern School, WA.
Judges’ comments provided by Casey Temby, Sarah McBride and Ross Potter:
“This is a striking and assured work that captures the intensity of its subject. The artist demonstrates a strong command of charcoal powder, using tonal contrast to model form and create convincing depth. Careful attention to surface detail – every pore, every line on the face, and the nuanced texture of the skin, enhances the realism and tactility of the portrait. The direct gaze and controlled composition work together to convey a clear sense of resolve and presence, giving the work a compelling immediacy.”
Bailey Riemann, Highlights of the hustle, graphite and colour pencil on paper, 42 x 30cm, Year 12, CBC Fremantle, WA.
Judges’ comments provided by Casey Temby, Sarah McBride and Ross Potter:
“An accomplished self-portrait that combines technical precision with a clear visual language. The interplay between graphite and selective colour is handled with sophistication, with the orange accents creating a striking focal point that draws immediate attention and anchors the composition. There is an interesting tension at play between restraint and assertion. The monochrome areas suggest introspection and a degree of self-doubt as if the figure is still negotiating aspects of identity or direction. In contrast, the orange elements read as confident interventions—symbolic of achievement. This duality creates a psychological depth that lifts the work beyond pure representation. The drawing reflects strong observational skill and considered compositional awareness, but also raises open questions: where does this figure go from here, and what does the future hold when confidence and hesitation coexist so visibly? There is a sense of an emerging trajectory—an artist who is clearly a high achiever, yet still in the process of defining what success or identity will look like beyond the present moment.”
Ella Bihrenbrodt (WA) • Kayla Braimbridge (WA) • Idelia Cao (NSW) • Raadin Ebadi (WA) • Billy Ferguson (QLD) • Hephzibah Fraser (VIC) • Celine Gan (WA) • Wenya Gao (VIC) • Indigo Gilmour (WA) • Callum Goh (WA) • Charlotte Grace (WA) • Natali Jaros (WA) • Mathilda Meyers (WA) • Bella Mihyo (WA) • Laura Niu (WA) • Lacey Pohle (QLD) • Sanuthi Rathnayake (WA) • Jolie Reutens (WA) • Bailey Riemann (WA) • Tasha Rogoff (NSW) • Mila Sander (WA) • Miriam Sekendy (WA) • Naomi Symonds (WA) • Jinyu Wang (WA) • Emma Yuqian Wang (NSW) • Seneja Willamune (WA) • Yu-Xin Wong (WA) • Chloe Yin (VIC) • Zixi Zhao (VIC) • Ethan Zheng (VIC)
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