Greek Australian artist Ross Leondiou has been named a finalist in the 2026 Brisbane Portrait Prize, with his work Roby among the portraits selected for this year’s competition.
identity, with finalists competing for several awards, including the Courier-Mail People’s Choice Prize, worth $7,500.
The annual competition celebrates Brisbane’s artists and the people who shape the city’s identity, with finalists competing for several awards, including the Courier-Mail People’s Choice Prize, worth $7,500.
‘Roby’ by Ross Leondiou
Leondiou’s portrait depicts Roby Curtis, founder of Emmanuel City Mission in South Brisbane, who walked 2,700 kilometres from Brisbane to Alice Springs in 2026 to raise funds for homelessness support.
The artist has volunteered at the organisation for seven years and sought to capture Curtis’ compassion and the hope he brings to people experiencing hardship.
Painted in oil on board, the portrait shows Curtis holding a young sapling, symbolising renewal and growth.
Leondiou is a Brisbane-based painter whose expressive portraiture explores the human condition. Before turning to painting, he worked in fashion and photography, with his work appearing in Rolling Stone and on billboards across the United States.
The 2026 Brisbane Portrait Prize finalists exhibition is on display at the State Library of Queensland until November 8. The public can vote here for their favourite portrait in the People’s Choice Award, with the winner to receive $7,500.
Source: Greekherald.com.au
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