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 Kazayi, David Koroma, Lumé Margo, Will McDougall, Emily Nield, Zainab Rezaie, Hektor Rose, Milo Rose, Freya Jules Rudas, Hanna Saji, Armaan Singh, Charlotte Stevens, Helen Takla, Alexandra Tartaglia, Isabelle Telford, Michelle Truong, Xavier Viney, Maggie Walker

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.

Media enquiries, please contact Mikela Guseli, SAM Communications Coordinator.

p: (03) 4804 5009 e: mguseli@sheppartonartmuseum.com.au