Chief Judges
Each year, an expert from across Australia’s art industry is engaged by the BPP Board to judge the annual Brisbane Portrait Prize. The Chief Judge is responsible for awarding the Lord Mayor’s Prize, the Digital Award, the Performing Arts and Music Award, and the Sylvia Jones Prize for Women Artists.
2025
Jason Smith
Director
Art Gallery of South Australia
2024
Bree Pickering
Director
National Portrait Gallery
2023
Suzanne Cotter
Director
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
2022
Dr Lisa Slade
Assistant Director, Artistic Programs
Art Gallery of South Australia
2021
Karen Quinlan
Director
National Portrait Gallery Australia
2020
Nick Mitzevich
Director
National Gallery of Australia
2019
Chris Saines CNZM
Director
Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA)
Finalist Judges
The Finalist Judges have the mammoth task of selecting the finalist pieces from the vast number of entries submitted to the Brisbane Portrait Prize. The finalists works are selected two external judges, in collaboration with the Chair of the BPP Board.
2024-2025
Christine Clark
Head of Curatorial and Collections
Museum of Brisbane
2024-2025
Francoise Lane
Artistic Director
Cairns Indigenous Art Fair
2023
Dr Holly Arden
Art educator, curator and author
Former Interim and Associate Director of UQ Art Museum
2023
Teho Ropeyarn
Curator
Cairns Indigenous Art Fair
2022
Jonathan McBurnie
Director
Rockhampton Museum of Art
2022
Prof. Cindy Shannon AM
Pro Vice Chancellor (Indigenous)
Griffith University
2021
Adjunct Professor
School of Communication and Arts + Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
The University of Queensland
2021
Acting Head, Indigenous Engagement,
Queensland Museum Network
2020
Claire Sourgnes
Director
Ipswich Art Gallery
2019
Vanessa Van Ooyen
Gallery Director
QUT Art Museum and William Robinson Gallery
Queensland University of Technology