Adam Portraiture Award
Frequently Asked Questions
Adam Portraiture Award 2016 opening
What is the Adam Portraiture Award?
The Adam Portraiture Award is a biennial portrait award for painted portraits hosted and administered by The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata. The inaugural competition was held in 2000 and called the National Portrait Competition. It has been known as the Adam Portraiture Award since 2002.
The Award culminates in The Adam Portraiture Award exhibition in which all the finalists and the winners are shown at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery.
The Adam Foundation, established by Denis and Verna Adam, has sponsored the Award since inception in 2002.
The next Adam Portraiture Award exhibition runs from 21 May – 9 August 2026.
Who is the Judge in 2026?
This year, we are pleased to welcome Sydney-based artist Jude Rae as our guest judge. Jude is known for her still life paintings, portraits and architectural interiors. In 2005 and 2008 she won the Portia Geach Memorial Award for Portraiture and was Highly Commended in the Archibald Prize in 2019, 2021 and 2022.
Jude is the 2025 winner of the prestigious Wynne Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney.
Learn more about Jude Rae
What are the prizes?
This year, the First Prize (chosen by the judge) has increased to $30,000.
The prize for Runner-Up (chosen by the judge) is $2,500
The prize for People’s Choice Award is 2,500. This award is decided by votes from Gallery visitors and awarded on the final day of the exhibition.
How do I enter?
Artists enter the award through the entry form on our website. Click here for the 2026 entry form.
Please note that you will be judged for selection phase solely on the photographic image submitted with your entry form. Images must be of sufficient quality for judging and be an accurate representation of the artwork.
How much does it cost to enter?
There is a $50 non-refundable fee to enter, and this is payable through our website after submission of your entry form. This fee goes towards the cost of administering the award.
What are the main conditions of the Award?
Artist must be a NZ resident or citizen
Subject(s) must be a living NZ resident or citizen, and the painting based on at least one sitting or a study from life.
Artworks must be predominantly painted e.g. acrylic, oil, pastel or watercolour.
(Smaller elements of other media eg. pencil or charcoal are acceptable)Portraits must have been completed in the last 2 years - after entries to the previous Award closed on 21 March 2024.
Why is a live sitting with a subject required?
For 2026, all paintings entered should be of living New Zealanders, and be based on at least one sitting, or a study from life. This rule ensures that artists put strong consideration into who they chose to portray, and offers them a better chance to connect, observe and interpret the subject in real time, and capture their essence, without over-reliance on photographs.
This rule doesn’t limit artistic expression or dictate how the final portrait should look. Instead, it ensures that the creative process includes a direct, in-person engagement with the subject. The sitting may be brief, and the final portrait can evolve far beyond that session in any style or approach desired by the artist.
What permissions do I need?
permission of the current owner and/or holder of copyright, if this is not you. This includes permission from other co-creators.
permissions from the person(s) depicted.
permissions from any copyright holders or customary owner(s) of intellectual property used as source material in the creation of the work.
How do I seek copyright permission?
It is recommended that you always obtain permission in writing from both copyright and/or customary owner(s) of intellectual property. Further guidance is available from the New Zealand Intellectual Property Office.
Is there a size restriction?
Portraits entered into the Award should not exceed 250cm x 200cm including frame. There is no minimum size restriction.
What happens during the judging?
The initial selection is completed by the guest judge. The digital image submitted by each artist is sent to the judge. The judge use these digital images, along with the medium and dimensions of each work, to decide the finalists (usually between 35– 45 works).
The Adam Portraiture Award is judged blind. This means that during the initial selection phase, judges are not supplied with artist’s names, details, or biographies or statements submitted.
The shortlisted works are physically sent to the New Zealand Portrait Gallery to be hung for the final judging and exhibition. During the final hanging and judging phase, the judge will view the works in person, at the Gallery, and decide on an overall First Prize, and Runner-Up. This takes place a few days before the exhibition opening.
The People’s Choice Award is decided by visitor votes and is announced on the final day of the exhibition at The New Zealand Portrait Gallery.
When do I send in my portrait?
The initial selection process is done using the digital image submitted with your entry. Award finalists will be notified when to send in their physical portraits for final judging and the Adam Portraiture Award exhibition. Please note that the cost of courier for packaged artworks to the Gallery is at the expense of the artist.
When does the exhibition open?
The next Adam Portraiture Award exhibition runs from 21 May until 9 August 2026 at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery, Shed 11 on Wellington Waterfront. The gallery is open from 10:00am – 4:30pm daily.
Are the portraits for sale?
Many of the portraits are for sale. It is up to the individual artist to decide whether they would like to sell their work. The New Zealand Portrait Gallery takes a 30% commission for handling the sales of the work.
What happens to the winning artwork?
Since 2006 the First Prize winning artwork has been acquired into the New Zealand Portrait Gallery collection.
Will the exhibition tour?
Yes, most, if not all artworks in the Adam Portraiture Award exhibition will tour to multiple venues in the North and South Island for approximately 12 months following the exhibition’s close in Wellington. Any artists whose work is unable to be included in the touring exhibition will be contacted.
What are the important dates I need to be aware of?
11 September 2025: Entries open
4pm, Wednesday 18 March 2026: Entries close
13 April 2026: Finalist selection completed & finalists notified
8 May 2026: Deadline for finalists artworks to arrive at Gallery
18 May 2026: Final judging commences
20 May 2026: Winners announced at Award Ceremony
21 May – 9 August 2026: Finalists exhibition runs at New Zealand Portrait Gallery
2026-2027 (Dates TBC): Finalists exhibition tour to several venues around the country
If you have any more questions, you can contact the gallery via the form below or:
(04) 472 2298