Local students shine in Young Archie Shepparton at SAM
16 September 2026
Local students shine at Shepparton Art Museum in Young Archie Shepparton.
Now showing in Shepparton Art Museum’s (SAM) Ryan Family Children’s Gallery, Young Archie Shepparton celebrates the creativity, imagination, and unique perspectives of local primary and secondary students through 26 finalist portraits.
Now in its 14th year, the Art Gallery of New South Wales’s annual Young Archie competition is a portrait challenge for young artists inspired by and running concurrently alongside Australia’s oldest and most famous portrait prize, the Archibald Prize. The Young Archie Shepparton competition yielded near to 100 total submissions, coordinated through schools from across the region.
From the traditional medium of charcoal to intricate collages and even plasticine, students aged 5-18 years present the people in their lives through unique and emotive portraits that showcase the exciting creative talent that is flourishing within the Goulburn Valley and Hume communities. In addition to the 26 finalist works, all entries received through the competition’s open call-out are displayed digitally both within the gallery space and on screens on SAM’s ground level, ensuring the full spectrum of artistry is available for visitors to enjoy throughout the exhibition period, giving budding artists the chance to see their artwork celebrated alongside the Archibald Prize 2026, Australia’s beloved annual portraiture prize.
From the finalists, four artists will have their artworks crowned as the winners of the Young Archie Shepparton in recognition of their outstanding talent. Winners will be selected from the categories of primary school-aged and secondary school-aged finalists, and will be awarded a gift pack from the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Visitors also have a chance to vote for their preferred work in the Young Archie People’s Choice Award, which is now open for voting via an in-gallery QR code until 11 October. All winners will be announced publicly on 14 October 2026.
Gabriella Calandro, Head of Engagement at Shepparton Art Museum, says of the exhibition:
“The quality of all submissions, and the stories from the students that accompanied each portrait, were of such excellence that selecting the 26 finalists was an incredibly difficult task. We congratulate all the artists who created a portrait for the competition, all of whom are on display digitally across the museum. We’re thrilled to be sharing the wonderful talent of our region’s young artists with the thousands of visitors that are coming from across the country to view the Archibald Prize, who have been so complimentary of the artwork and the emerging talent that is blossoming in our community.”
Young Archie Shepparton is now showing at Shepparton Art Museum until 1 November 2026 with free entry.
Archibald Prize 2026 is an Art Gallery of New South Wales touring exhibition.
Young Archie Shepparton finalists:
Joseph Aibel, Addyson Almond, Tomislav Bozanic, Jude Briskie, Ruby Campbell, Neema Erick, Abbie Higgins, Neve Hunter, Alicia Ihazayi, David Koroma, Lumé Margo, Will McDougall, Emily Nield, Zainab Rezaie, Hektor Rose, Milo Rose, Freya Jules Rudas, Hanna Saji, Armaan Singh, Charlotte Stevens, Helen Talka, Alexandra Tartaglia, Isabelle Telford, Michelle Truong, Xavier Viney, Maggie Walker
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About SAM:
Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) is located on Yorta Yorta Country, Shepparton, Victoria.
Serving as a dynamic cultural and community hub for the Greater Shepparton region, SAM is one of Australia’s leading regional art museums and the newest purpose-built collecting institution in regional Victoria. SAM houses one of the nation’s most significant collections of Australian ceramics and regional holdings of South Eastern Indigenous Art, and presents an inclusive museum experience that inspires creativity, forges meaningful connections, and celebrates the unique stories of our region.
Through its programs, events, collection, and temporary exhibitions, SAM creates opportunities for artists and creatives to engage audiences with contemporary ideas and issues, allowing the stories of our country’s ancient cultures and contemporary multicultural Australia to be discovered and exchanged.
Media enquiries, please contact Mikela Guseli, SAM Communications Coordinator.
p: (03) 4804 5009 e: mguseli@sheppartonartmuseum.com.au
Final days of ‘Facing Modernity: Degas to Picasso’ at SAM
8 September 2026
FACING MODERNITY: DEGAS TO PICASSO MUST CLOSE NEXT WEEK
ONLY AT SHEPPARTON ART MUSEUM UNTIL 20 SEPTEMBER 2026
Only a few days remain to experience Facing Modernity: Degas to Picasso from Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki at the Shepparton Art Museum (SAM), with the exhibition closing on Sunday 20 September.
Featuring 37 extraordinary paintings and sculptures tracing the evolution of modern art, from Impressionism through to Cubism, Surrealism and post-war abstraction, Facing Modernity guides audiences on a comprehensive journey through nearly a century of artistic rebellion, revolution, and invention. Starring rarely-seen masterpieces by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Salvador Dalí, Paul Cezanne, Barbara Hepworth, and more, Facing Modernity presents the sole opportunity for Australian audiences to intimately encounter one of the most impactful eras in art history, recounted through an exemplary grouping of works by the period’s most significant figures.
Drawn from Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, the selected works make their only Australian appearance in Shepparton, returning to their New Zealand home at the conclusion of the exhibition.
This major international exhibition includes works from the significant Robertson gift to Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, offering a rare glimpse into one of the most important private collections of modern art. From the atmospheric brushwork of Impressionism to the bold experimentation of Cubism and the dreamlike visions of Surrealism, Facing Modernity charts how artists reshaped the way we see the world.
Danny Lacy, SAM Artistic Director, says:
“We encourage art-lovers from near and far to enjoy Facing Modernity before it closes on 20 September. It’s been a real pleasure to host the collection here in Shepparton—the curation of the show brings the history and energy of the modern period to life, and the intimacy of the space allows you to encounter magnificent works by Dalí, Picasso, Degas, Cezanne, Hepworth, and Braque up close and in great detail. To experience this kind of artwork in the tranquillity of regional Victoria is a delight and a rarity—I urge people not to miss this moment.”
Visitors to Facing Modernity also have the opportunity to experience the Archibald Prize 2026 at SAM, which recently opened at the museum for the exclusive Victorian leg of its national tour.
Facing Modernity: Degas to Picasso is presented in partnership with Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and is on display at Shepparton Art Museum, Shepparton, Victoria until 20 September 2026. Tickets are available from sheppartonartmuseum.com.au
ENDS
About SAM:
Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) is located on Yorta Yorta Country, Shepparton, Victoria.
Serving as a dynamic cultural and community hub for the Greater Shepparton region, SAM is one of Australia’s leading regional art museums and the newest purpose-built collecting institution in regional Victoria. SAM houses one of the nation’s most significant collections of Australian ceramics and regional holdings of South Eastern Indigenous Art, and presents an inclusive museum experience that inspires creativity, forges meaningful connections, and celebrates the unique stories of our region.
Through its programs, events, collection, and temporary exhibitions, SAM creates opportunities for artists and creatives to engage audiences with contemporary ideas and issues, allowing the stories of our country’s ancient cultures and contemporary multicultural Australia to be discovered and exchanged.
About Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, part of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, is the largest and most inspiring visual arts experience in Aotearoa New Zealand. Its collection and loan collections currently number over 18,000 artworks, spanning major holdings of New Zealand historic, modern and contemporary art. Alongside outstanding works by Māori and Pacific artists, they represent significant international painting, sculpture and print collections.
Archibald Prize 2026 now open
4 September 2026
ARCHIBALD PRIZE 2026 OPENS IN SHEPPARTON THIS WEEKEND IN ITS ONLY VICTORIAN VENUE
SHEPPARTON ART MUSEUM
5 SEPTEMBER – 1 NOVEMBER 2026
Australia’s most celebrated portrait prize has arrived in regional Victoria, with Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) the only Victorian venue to experience the touring exhibition of the Archibald Prize 2026.
On now until 1 November, the exhibition brings the 59 finalist works to Shepparton, including the winning portrait by Melbourne-based artist Richard Lewer, offering audiences across Victoria the chance to experience one of the country’s most celebrated and anticipated art exhibitions close to home.
Established in 1921, the Archibald Prize is Australia’s oldest and most prestigious portrait award, presented annually to the best portrait painting “preferentially of some man or woman distinguished in art, letters, science or politics”.
SAM Artistic Director Danny Lacy said bringing the Archibald Prize to Shepparton was a major moment for the museum, the region, and art lovers across Victoria.
“It’s wonderful to see the Archibald Prize arrive in Shepparton, bringing together 59 portraits that reflect the people, personalities and stories shaping Australia today. We’re honoured to be chosen as the exclusive Victorian venue on the exhibition’s regional tour, and we know our community is equally thrilled to host such a beloved event in our nation’s cultural calendar. The artworks showcased in this exhibition exemplify the talent that abounds in the contemporary Australian arts scene, and we’re eager to welcome audiences from across the state to experience the exhibition and all the museum has to offer.
“Spring is a beautiful time to visit Shepparton and we encourage audiences to make a day, or a weekend, of it – experience the Archibald Prize 2026 and our wider program of exhibitions and events, and enjoy our region’s food, culture and landscape.”
City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali said the arrival of the Archibald Prize 2026 was a significant cultural and tourism opportunity for the region.
“The Archibald Prize is a major drawcard for Greater Shepparton and we are delighted to welcome visitors from across Victoria and beyond to experience this remarkable exhibition at SAM. Events of this scale showcase the depth and diversity of our region, while supporting local businesses, accommodation providers, restaurants and tourism operators.
“We encourage everyone to come to Shepparton, visit SAM, see the Archibald Prize for themselves and stay a while to discover all that our great region has to offer.”
Art Gallery of New South Wales Senior Curator of Contemporary Australian art Beatrice Gralton said the Archibald Prize regional tour extends access beyond Sydney to this celebrated exhibition.
“The Archibald Prize holds a unique place in our cultural landscape, bringing together outstanding portraiture and offering a compelling snapshot of contemporary Australia. Following its presentation in Sydney, the regional tour gives communities across the country the opportunity to experience these remarkable works firsthand.
“We are delighted to partner with Shepparton Art Museum as the first venue on the Archibald Prize 2026 tour, continuing the Art Gallery of New South Wales’ longstanding commitment to ensuring greater access to one of Australia’s most loved exhibitions.”
The exhibition is expected to attract thousands of visitors to the Goulburn Valley, strengthening Shepparton’s reputation as a major cultural tourism destination. Visitors are encouraged to extend their stay and explore the region’s acclaimed food, wine, outdoor experiences and vibrant art and cultural offerings.
Visitors can engage more deeply with the artworks and artists of the Archibald Prize 2026 through a series of artist talks and workshops at SAM throughout September and October, beginning with an in-conversation event on Saturday 5 September at 10.30am featuring Archibald Prize 2026 winner Richard Lewer and Beatrice Gralton. More details about this event and other programs can be found at https://sheppartonartmuseum.com.au/events/.
Archibald Prize 2026 is on display at SAM from 5 September to 1 November 2026. Tickets available at sheppartonartmuseum.com.au.
Archibald Prize 2026 is an Art Gallery of New South Wales touring exhibition, and the regional tour is supported by major partner Optus. Find out more about each of this year’s Archibald Prize finalists at artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2026.
-ENDS-
About SAM:
Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) is located on Yorta Yorta Country, Shepparton, Victoria.
Serving as a dynamic cultural and community hub for the Greater Shepparton region, SAM is one of Australia’s leading regional art museums and the newest purpose-built collecting institution in regional Victoria. SAM houses one of the nation’s most significant collections of Australian ceramics and regional holdings of South Eastern Indigenous Art, and presents an inclusive museum experience that inspires creativity, forges meaningful connections, and celebrates the unique stories of our region.
Through its programs, events, collection, and temporary exhibitions, SAM creates opportunities for artists and creatives to engage audiences with contemporary ideas and issues, allowing the stories of our country’s ancient cultures and contemporary multicultural Australia to be discovered and exchanged.
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Media enquiries, please contact: Ali Webb, House of Webb Publicity
p: +61 438 190 328 e: ali@houseofwebb.com.au
