Art lovers and artists celebrated 18 years of the Lester Prize at a private viewing of the national exhibition held in Perth.

Cocktails and canapes were served at the WA Museum Boola Bardip and guests heard from some of this year’s artists talk about their experience as a finalist in front of their own portraits.

Ben Howe was the recipient of the 2024 Richard Lester Prize for Portraiture for his painting, Cartagena Library.

Tom Price artist Jenna Pickering was awarded the Ashurst Emerging Artist Award and the Tony Fini Foundation Artists’ prize for her Together As One piece.

Ms Pickering was shortlisted from 800 entries and one of 40 finalists.

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