THE results are in for the Art Handler’s Awards at the National Portrait Gallery for both the upcoming Darling Portrait Prize and the National Photographic Portrait Prize exhibitions.

Both winners receive $2000 courtesy IAS Fine Art Logistics. Jane Allan’s portrait of her carer Warren, titled “Weight of the Mind’s Periapt 2021”, wins the 2022 Darling Portrait Prize Art Handler’s Award.

NPG collection manager Maria Ramsden and collection administrator Renee Joyce were struck by the freshness, intelligence, and the “earthy tonality and semi-industrial forms” of Allan’s portrait of Warren, a former science and maths lecturer, woodworking specialist and lover of cats.

To the artist, her subject is an unsung hero.

Allan says: “As an Australian living with disability, I wanted my portrait to be of someone truly deserving of recognition, so I selected my primary-carer Warren. He is committed to wife Robyn and best mate to his 23-year-old black Burmese cat Mendelssohn. Most importantly, at 75 years young, Warren is my primary carer after a truck ran into me resulting in spinal cord injury which robbed me of my independence.”

The winner of the $75,000 Darling Portrait Prize will be announced on June 24.

Adam Haddrick’s portrait of Indigenous elder Cordy, titled “Cordy in the Clouds 2021” wins the 2022 National Photographic Portrait Prize Art Handlers Award.

NPG collection officers Jess Kemister and Jacob Potter were mesmerised by Haddrick’s portrait of Cordy, whose name means “Spirit of the Sunrise” in the traditional language of the Tjungundji people of far North Queensland.

The National Photographic Portrait Prize winner will be announced on July 1, and will take home $50,000 in prizes: $30,000 cash from the National Portrait Gallery and $20,000 worth of Canon equipment thanks to Imaging Partner Canon Australia.