BANK Art Museum Moree last Thursday announced Gab Lewis as the winner of the seventh BAMM Biennale Portrait Prize.

The prize, recognised nationally, is valued at $7500 and awarded for excellence in portrait painting.

Located in north-western New South Wales, BAMM has been a cultural hub for the region for more than 35 years, with deep roots in the local community and a rich art collection.

Ms Lewis was selected from 14 finalists across Australia, at all stages of their careers.

She received the 2025 prize for her self-portrait, Entire.

“I am thrilled to be the recipient of the 2025 BAMM Biennale Portrait Prize,” Ms Lewis said.

“I am extremely grateful; it’s an outcome I was not at all expecting. This is the first self-portrait I have painted in over 10 years.

“The process brought on challenges and learning curves, and called for reflection as I tried to push my painting abilities,” she said.

“To get this huge gesture of recognition really means the world, especially at a time where it feels increasingly difficult to work as a creative practitioner.

“This prize will help facilitate an ambitious body of work I am developing and will be exhibiting next year,” Ms Lewis said.

The Melbourne-based artist’s winning work is a self-portrait imbued with tender sincerity and marks a turning point in her practice, moving from stylised renderings towards realism.

Lewis studied at RMIT School of Art and The Art Institute of Chicago, shaping her research and archive based practice, which often explores memory, emotional experiences and the mundane remnants of everyday life.

This year’s judging panel comprised museums and galleries director Susi Muddiman, Bank Art Museum Moree director Rosie Dennis and Dick Estens, owner and director of Grove Australia Holdings.

“We were all drawn to Gab Lewis’ self-portrait, recognising the strong social currency of the work in relation to identity, self- reflection and authenticity,” Ms Muddiman said.

“We loved the simplicity of the portrait, the emotion it carried and the confidence in her mark-making.”

BAMM director, Rosie Dennis, said judges were thrilled with the quality of artworks in this year’s prize, and were delighted to announce Gab Lewis as the winner.

“With our partner, Grove Australia Holdings, we are committed to growing the prize over the next decade, firmly placing Moree on the cultural map,” Ms Dennis said.

The exhibition of finalists will be presented at BAMM from June 6 to July 19.

Spanning oil, watercolour, and acrylic, on supports including canvas, aluminium, board, and linen, the works in this year’s Prize touch on themes of care and shared humanity – from reflective self-portraits to portraits of family and friends that highlight the importance of human connection and shared experiences.

Finalists’ works include notable figures such as acclaimed contemporary Australian artist Tony Albert, by Ray Monde, and Swedish-Australian stage and screen composer Maria Alfonsine, by Matteo Bernasconi.

The $1000 People’s Choice Award will be announced on Friday, July 18.

Winning works from the under-11, under-15 and under-18 categories receive $250, $500, and $750 respectively.

The BAMM Biennale Portrait Prize has been supported by Principal Sponsor Grove Australia Holdings.

2025 FINALISTS: Matteo Bernasconi (highly commended); Samantha Groenestyn; Amanda Holman; Gab Lewis (winner); Julie Lloyd (highly commended); Alison Mackay; Ray Monde; Alix O’Neil; Lily Platts (runner-up); Matthew Quick; Imogen Eve Rowe; Deb Michell-Smith; Mark Tippett; and Natasha Tuart

Upcoming exhibitions at BAMM include Boundaries: Transcended (August 1 to September 13, 2025), an installation of 700 tiny ceramic homes created by hundreds of people who came together in celebration of the resettlement of refugees in the Hunter Valley.

Nan Goldin: The Ballad of Sexual Dependency will be exhibited from October 31 to December 12, the New South Wales premiere of the legendary photographic series by the internationally acclaimed artist, as part of the National Gallery of Australia’s inaugural photographic touring program.

For more information visit Bank Art Museum Moree