Wendy Sharpe's 'Patricia Piccinini (Patricia Piccinin, artist)', oil on linen, 137 x 122 cm
We’re delighted to announce Wendy SHARPE, Ross LAURIE and Euan MACLEOD are finalists in the 2026 Salon des Refusés, at S. H. Ervin Gallery, National Trust. This fabulous ‘rival’ exhibition of the AGNSW’s Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes will run from May 9 to July 26, 2026.
In this year’s Archibald section, Wendy Sharpe’s selected portrait depicts multi-disciplinary artist Patricia Piccinini, and in the Wynne selection, the wonderful team at S. H. Ervin have selected Ross Laurie’s Morning Chorus, and Euan Macleod’s Sea Cave.
The Salon des Refusés was initiated by the S.H. Ervin Gallery in 1992 in response to the large number of works entered into the Archibald Prize which were not selected for display in the official exhibition. The Archibald Prize is one of Australia’s most high profile and respected awards which attracts hundreds of entries each year and the S.H. Ervin Gallery’s ‘alternative’ selection has become a much-anticipated feature of the Sydney scene.
Each year our panel is invited to go behind the scenes of the judging process for the annual Archibald Prize for portraiture and Wynne Prize for landscape painting and figure sculpture at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, to select an exhibition from the many hundreds of works entered in both prizes but not chosen for the official award exhibition.
The Salon des Refusés exhibition at the S.H. Ervin Gallery has established an excellent reputation that rivals the selections in the ‘official’ exhibition, with works selected for quality, diversity, humour and experimentation, and which examine contemporary art practices, different approaches to portraiture and responses to the landscape.
S. H. Ervin Gallery, Observatory Hill: 2 Watson Rd, Millers Point NSW 2000
Exhibition Dates: May 9 – July 26, 2026
Open: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
National Trust members – FREE
Adult – $15
Family – $42
Concession* – $12
Child (under 5 years) – FREE
*Concession applies for full-time students, seniors, pensioners and children aged 5-15 years.
How to book your tickets:Tickets can be purchased at the door or booked in advance to guarantee your spot. Booking fees apply.
