The exhibition at the Warrnambool Art gallery opened on Saturday, and the public has been encouraged to pop along and vote for their favourite.

The WDEA Warrnibald Portrait Exhibition and Prize began in 2012 to celebrate the contribution south-west residents made to their local community. 

The annual exhibition offers a prize purse of $4000, awarded via judges’ selections and a coveted People’s Choice Award. 

Inspired by the prestigious Archibald Portrait Prize – which was founded by the son of Warrnambool Museum and Art Gallery founder and philanthropist Joseph Archibald – the Warrnibald raises funds for and awareness of WDEA’s ArtLink program, an arts therapy initiative.

Portrait subjects can be anyone from the south-west community who has made contributions in the areas of culture, charity, business, science, health, education, sport or politics.