'Her Final Gift': How Nathan's Aunty Helped Him to Win One of Australia's Biggest Art Prizes

Intimate picture marks end of National Portrait Prize

Artist Nathan Beard has won the National Photographic Portrait Prize in its final year, with an image of his aunt in the months before her death.

Prize-winning portrait a 'final gift' from aunt before death

Nathan Beard captured a private moment while visiting his beloved aunt in Thailand earlier this year. She died before he this week won the National Photographic Prize.

'Her final gift': how Nathan's aunty helped him to win one of Australia's biggest art prizes

Melbourne artist Nathan Beard claims the 2026 National Photographic Portrait Prize for his poignant image of aunty Mae Khong. Uncover the emotional story of this winning photo.

Portrait of ‘palpable intimacy’ wins richest photo prize

Nathan Beard’s photo of his aunt recovering after a fall resulted in a “quietly captured moment” that won over the judges of the National Portrait Gallery’s portrait prize.

Poignant portrait honouring ‘second mother’ collects prestigious photographic prize

When Nathan Beard’s elderly aunt had a fall, she remained determined to do everything for herself – so he captured her dignified stoicism in a powerful image.