Salon des Refusés

Image banner details and content from S H Ervin Gallery website. Additional material marked [Ed.]

Salon des Refusés – The Alternative Archibald & Wynne Exhibition 9 May – 26 July 2026
S H Ervin Gallery, Sydney is showcasing a curated selection of outstanding works not included in the official Archibald and Wynne Prize exhibitions. This unique exhibition offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience an alternative perspective on some of Australia’s most prestigious art prizes.

While the Archibald Prize is widely regarded as Australia’s most prominent portraiture award, and the Wynne Prize celebrates excellence in landscape painting and figure sculpture, the Salon des Refusés provides a compelling “second look” at the works that deserve recognition.

Each year, an independent panel is granted exclusive access to the judging process at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. From this insider vantage point, they carefully select a collection of artworks that, while not chosen for the official exhibition, stand out for their artistic merit, originality, and impact. For art lovers, it offers a unique chance to engage with pieces that might otherwise remain unseen.

Whether you’re an art enthusiast, collector, or casual visitor, the Salon des Refusés offers a rich and rewarding experience that celebrates artistic diversity and creative exploration. This is a must-see event.

This year it includes a portrait of Richard Peram, former Director of Bathurst Regional Art Gallery by Andrew Norton. Well-known art critic John McDonald wrote in his art column about the Salon des Refusés exhibition: “Ann Cape’s portrait of Indonesian-Australian artist, Jumaadi, is one of her best entries in years, but it failed to move the trustees. Neither did Adam Norton’s portrait of former gallery director, Richard Perram, which is not only an excellent likeness but captures the subject’s fearless, extrovert personality. Not many gallerists of Perram’s vintage would be caught bare-chested in Comme des Garçons.” Click on the links below for John McDonald's article, and to view the image of the painting courtesy Ultimo Picture Framing Instagram post. [Ed.]

Art column by John McDonald

Richard Perram by Andrew Norton, see Ultimo Picture Framing