Miriam Sekendy Recognised at the Lester Prize Youth Awards

Miriam's work, Interrupted Thoughts, was selected from hundreds of entries submitted by high school students from across Australia and is currently on exhibition at the Old Gaol building, WA Museum Boola Bardip, until 19 July 2026.

About the Youth Awards

Now in its 18th year, the Lester Prize is Australia's largest national art prize by total prize pool. The Youth Awards component invites high school students in Years 7 to 12 from across Australia to submit original portrait works, with finalists exhibited alongside adult professionals in a nationally recognised public forum. The prize champions the artist's voice over the subject's celebrity – a philosophy that resonates deeply with John XXIII's own commitment to seeing and celebrating each student's individual gifts.

The Work

Interrupted Thoughts is a hyperrealist portrait; rendered with extraordinary precision, yet deliberately, meaningfully unfinished. In their judges' comments, Casey Temby, Sarah McBride and Ross Potter described the work with rare praise:

'The technical prowess of the artist is impressive in this artwork. The rendering and highlighting to create texture display a highly skilled hand. A very contemporary choice is evident in terms of what the artist chose to leave out. In a hyper-realistic style, it is a brave decision in knowing when to stop and let the work speak for itself. The unfinished part of Interrupted Thoughts is particularly meaningful, conveying a sense of uncertainty that reflects the artist's stage of life and the evolving nature of identity, leaving the viewer to wonder how her future will unfold.'

To know when to stop, to trust the work, and to let silence carry meaning, is the mark of a confident, thoughtful artist.

In her own words

‘Interrupted thoughts is a portrait of my cousin, who at the time was moving through adolescence and into adulthood. It reflects the uncertainty of transition and the vulnerability of growing up. She is captured deep in contemplation, her thoughts interrupted. Pressed hands into the face emphasise the weight of expectation and self-doubt. The subtle curvature of graphite follows the folds in her face to depict the slow, organic movement of change.

The portrait is intentionally left incomplete to symbolise a young girl caught between who she is now and who she is becoming. The fully rendered side represents her present self - shaped, visible and defined. The unfinished half suggests an unclear future, the possibilities depicted by her undefined finger placement.’

A reflection on art and identity

At John XXIII College, we believe in finding meaning in all things – in the classroom, on the stage, on the field, and in the studio. Miriam's work is a beautiful expression of that Ignatian principle. Through portraiture, she has done something quietly powerful: she has paused, reflected, and invited her audience to do the same. Interrupted Thoughts is a meditation on identity, uncertainty, and the courage to leave space for what is not yet known.

Visit the exhibition

The 2026 Lester Prize for Portraiture Youth Awards is on display at the Old Gaol building, WA Museum Boola Bardip, Perth, until 19 July 2026. Entry is free. We encourage our College community to visit and experience the work of Miriam and her fellow finalists from across Australia.