澳大利亚画家迈克尔·扎夫罗斯凭借肖像作品《亚历克斯和他的经卷在海边》获得2026年阿奇博尔德奖人民选择奖[2]。该作品描绘了澳大利亚犹太人执行委员会联合首席执行官亚历克斯·瑞夫钦在海滩浅滩中漫步的场景[2]。近46,000名访客参与了投票[2]，扎夫罗斯因此获得5000美元奖金[2]。新南威尔士州美术馆馆长莫德·佩奇称扎夫罗斯为"这个国家杰出的现实主义画家"[2]。
扎夫罗斯在邦迪海滩恐袭后不久与瑞夫钦合作完成了这幅肖像，旨在表现他的力量、尊严和痛楚[2]。2025年12月发生的邦迪海滩恐袭造成16人死亡，包括1名攻击者[2]。在获奖感言中，扎夫罗斯表示："绝大多数情况下，我认为澳大利亚人不是种族歧视者。我不认为我们是仇恨同性恋者。我也不认为我们是反犹太主义者。"[2]
本届阿奇博尔德奖展览共有59位艺术家入选决赛[1]，展览在新南威尔士州美术馆展出至8月16日[1]。
Australian artist Michael Zavros has won the 2026 Archibald Prize People's Choice Award for his portrait of Alex Ryvchin, joint chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry[1][2]. The work, titled "Alex with his tefillin in the sea," depicts Ryvchin walking through shallow waters at a beach and carries a prize value of $5,000[2]. Zavros created the portrait shortly after the December 2025 Bondi Beach terror attacks, seeking to capture Ryvchin's strength, dignity, and sorrow[2].
The portrait resonated strongly with voters, receiving support from nearly 46,000 visitors to the Art Gallery of New South Wales[2]. Zavros, a seven-time Archibald finalist, responded to his win by stating: "Overwhelmingly, I don't believe Australians are racist. I don't believe we are homophobic. And I don't believe we are antisemitic"[2]. The Art Gallery of NSW's director Maud Page described Zavros as "the nation's foremost realist painter"[2].
The 2026 Archibald Prize exhibition, which features 59 selected artists[1], runs at the Art Gallery of New South Wales through August 16[1]. The main Archibald Prize was awarded to Richard Luel[1].