© National Portrait Gallery 2026
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196
National Photographic Portrait Prize 2026 Finalist
‘Set in France, Sisterhood responds to the country’s 2022 hijab ban in basketball and the wider exclusion of visibly Muslim women from sport. Against a backdrop of rising Islamophobia and far-right politics, Sisterhood documents the resilience of those affected and the activism of collectives like Basket pour Toutes (Basketball for all). This portrait challenges policies that silence and marginalise under the guise of secularism, affirming that the right to play – and to choose how to exist – is fundamental to gender justice.’
Su Cassiano is a French-Italian photographer who settled in Australia in 2016. Currently based in Istanbul, Türkiye, she specialises in narrative portraiture and documentary. Grounded in collaboration and trust, Cassiano fosters meaningful relationships with her subjects, resulting in portraits that are imbued with emotional nuance and authenticity.
The People’s Choice Award is generously supported by the Calvert-Jones Foundation, with the artist who wins the most votes receiving $10,000.
Voting closes Wednesday 30 September 2026.
from Saturday 22 August
The National Photographic Portrait Prize 2026 marks the end of one of the Gallery’s longest-running exhibitions.
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