The Kingston Prize, Canada's esteemed national portrait competition, has announced an increase in its award for the upcoming 2025 competition, raising the grand prize from $20,000 to $25,000. Established in 2005, the Kingston Prize celebrates contemporary portraits by...
The Kingston Prize Book | A 20 Year Retrospective
The Kingston Prize: Canada's Portrait Competition is a 20-year retrospective of the face of Canada through our finalists' portraits. The book contains over 250 full-colour portraits, of Canadians and by Canadians - every winner and finalist since The Prize was first...
2026 Exhibition Announced, Jurors and News!
This year’s exhibition will once again be held at Arta Gallery in Toronto’s historic Distillery District. The exhibition will open on Friday, October 30, and run through Sunday, November 8, with our Awards Gala taking place on Friday, November 6.
The 2026 Competition is Now Open!
Calling all portrait artists across Canada The 2026 edition of The Kingston Prize is officially OPEN for submissions! This is your opportunity to share the faces, stories, and spirit of Canada through your work, and to be part of a truly national celebration of...
The Kingston Prize announces move to annual competition
The Board of Directors has approved a transition from a biennial to an annual competition, beginning in 2026. It is a decision born not of haste, but of abundance—the growing strength of figurative art in this country, and our desire to offer more frequent moments of...
In the News | The Telegram
The Telegram writes an in-depth piece about how a NL connection led to this national portrait competition win.
In the News | CBC Arts
"Is this woman expecting your company, or awaiting devotion from the faithful? Whatever the case, in her printed capris and a loose pink blouse, she could be any contemporary woman her age. If she seems especially familiar, though, that’s not the reason why. The...
In the News | CBC The Morning Edition
"I'd been familiar with Mary Pratt's work and knew, of course, of the Wicker Chair painting. I didn't recognize her initially but my colleague...said 'Do you know who that is?...Then she said to me, 'You should paint Donna.''" An introduction by a colleague to the...
In the News | Toronto Life
Announcing The Kingston Prize winner...
In the News | The Brandon Sun
"The piece reflects what he described as the “expectations, weather, grief and unpreparedness” of starting life anew in Canada, especially in Brandon." What does it mean for an immigrant from Nigeria to be recognized in Canada's portrait competition? Read Abiola...