Elyas Alavi wins the inaugural Artbank Award

The inaugural Artbank Prize has been awarded to Victorian artist Elyas Alavi for his painting Face to Face, which enters the Artbank national collection. Afghanistan-born and Melbourne-based, Alavi works across painting, drawing, installation, performance, moving image and poetry.

“Artbank has been supporting and collecting the work of Australian artists for more than four decades, so to know that my painting will now become part of that history is something I feel very proud of,” says Alavi. “It gives me a real sense of encouragement to keep trusting the direction my work is taking, and to keep making work that feels personal, honest and meaningful.”

The 2026 judging panel — artist Tony Albert, curator Ellie Buttrose and arts journalist Elizabeth Fortescue — singled out the work for its restraint. “Elyas Alavi’s painting is striking for its quiet emotional power, nuanced handling of intimacy and distinctive visual language,” says Buttrose. “It demonstrates an impressive level of artistic maturity that we felt should be celebrated and more widely shared.”

“The Artbank Prize provides a rare opportunity for an artist at a pivotal point in their career, offering both recognition and the legacy of acquisition into a national collection.” — Ellie Buttrose

Also shortlisted: Dave Carswell (TAS), Cathy Franzi (ACT), Annette Galstaun (NSW), Sam Harrison (QLD), Angelina Karadada Boona (WA), Damien Shen (SA) and Wanapati Yunupiŋu (NT).

The finalist exhibition is showing now at Artbank, Warren/Sydney.

Images:

‘Face to Face,’ 2025. Oil on canvas, 104.5 x 78.5 x5.5cm. Photo by Jennifer Leahy for Artbank
Elyas Alavi in his studio photo by Machiko Abe courtesy of the artist.