First a portrait prize … now Brisbane gets a Portrait Gallery
The Brisbane Portrait Prize has been so successful it makes sense for the city to get its own Brisbane Portrait Gallery – to open in March 2026.
We have our own portrait prize but what we really need is our very own portrait gallery. Right? So here’s the big news – we are getting one.
Brisbane Portrait Gallery is an initiative of Stockwell property group, with the Brisbane Portrait Prize joining the endeavour as exhibition and curatorial partner. Opening in March 2026 at 51 Fish Lane, South Brisbane, the gallery will be a year-round space dedicated to celebrating portraiture and the artists who capture the spirit of our city.
Brisbane Portrait Prize chair Anna Reynold says the prize’s Finalists Exhibition will continue exactly as it is, at the State Library of Queensland.
“Everything about the main prize remains unchanged,” says Reynolds. “The new gallery is an addition designed to offer even more opportunities for artists and an exciting new experience for visitors.
“Portrait galleries are a feature in many international cities. They work at highlighting local artists, telling the story of the city and supporting the creative culture of the city. This is hugely important in the run up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games, where we need a platform to show the world who we are and what we do.
You might like
“What better way to do this than through the eyes of local artists – telling the story of local people. It’s a win win.
“This is a hugely generous offering from Mark Stockwell, which will enliven the local arts scene and grow our creative culture in the lead up to 2032. Brisbane audiences love and support all types of arts, so we are so pleased to be able to offer this new venue as a place to showcase local talent and a destination for locals.”
From 2026, the Salon des Refusés will also move from the Royal Queensland Art Society Gallery to the new Brisbane Portrait Gallery.
“Having the salon just a short stroll from the Finalists Exhibition will create a seamless and inspiring experience for visitors, and an even stronger showcase of portraiture across both venues,” says Reynolds. “We are so grateful to our friends at RQAS for taking such good care of the salon until now, and cannot wait to see it flourish in its new home.
Subscribe for updates
“This is a wonderful new chapter for portraiture in Brisbane and for the artists and audiences who continue to make it thrive. It complements the existing successful institutions, like QAGOMA and Museum of Brisbane. We cannot wait to share more as the Brisbane Portrait Gallery comes to life in 2026.”
The new gallery will provide support and exhibiting space for local portrait artists, particularly those affiliated with BPP to exhibit throughout the year. It will provide visitors and locals with an accessible and authentic cultural space outside of Brisbane’s major institutions and create a permanent art space that encourages ongoing public engagement and opportunity – particularly for young and emerging artists.
It will also run a public program including workshops, events, residencies, school engagement and collaborative activations.
Reynolds confirmed that the Brisbane Portrait Gallery will host three to four exhibitions a year and will be run by a gallery manager/curator, to be announced soon.
Brisbane Portrait Gallery is an initiative of the Stockwell Foundation, with the Brisbane Portrait Prize as exhibition partner.
Brisbane Portrait Gallery will open at 51 Fish Lane, South Brisbane, in March, 2026. This year’s Finalists Exhibition continues at the State Library of Queensland until November 9.