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.

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 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...

The Telegram writes an in-depth piece about how a NL connection led to this national portrait competition win.

"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...

"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...

Announcing The Kingston Prize winner...

"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...

The Kingston Prize is pleased to announce the 2025 winners. The winners were announced at a private reception at Arta Gallery in Toronto's historic Distillery District, attended by many of the finalists, their subjects, and guests. From Jason Donville, Board...

"Deeply personal: Two NL artists among finalists for national portrait competition." The stories behind the pieces by Nelson White and Orlin Mantchev give their heartfelt works poignant context as they vie for The Kingston Prize.

The Kingston Prize has announced the 30 finalists for its 2025 national portrait competition. We congratulate each finalist and thank all the incredible artists who submitted their works this year. With 420 entries from across Canada, The Kingston Prize is a truly...

"The Kingston Prize celebrates 20 years of looking into our collective soul." What’s interesting and special about the Kingston Prize, Donville explains, is that historically Canada has defined its artistic excellence through landscape, and not just because of the...