Portrait of hidden faces declared a hands-down winner

A shot of three girls hiding their faces with hand gestures has won the National Photographic Portrait Prize.

It's the second win for artist Hoda Afshar, who couldn't hold back tears when she discovered she had won on the morning of her birthday, 10 years since first winning the prestigious award in 2015.

Afshar submitted the photo hoping to draw attention to Indigenous children who have been incarcerated in youth detention across Australia.

"The children I've worked with are among the most vulnerable in this country. They experience disadvantage, discrimination and incarceration from an early age," said Afshar.

"They need love, care, and community, but instead, they're criminalised and punished."

The artwork is part of a series titled Code Black/Riot, named for the code used in youth detention to communicate that a riot is taking place.

It was taken with a group of First Nations children, who were invited to choose a way of concealing their identities while making a personal statement.

Their gestures represented an act of resistance, both to the camera and to authority, said Afshar.

First Nations children aged 10 to 17 make up 6.6 per cent of their age group, but are 27 times more likely than non-indigenous children to be imprisoned, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Many young people in the far north Queensland community where the image was taken prefer not to show their faces in photos, so they can't be identified by the youth justice system, Afshar explained.

"By handing agency over to her subjects, Hoda Afshar has given these First Nations young people the rare opportunity to frame themselves on their own terms," the judges said.

The winner receives $30,000 as well as photography equipment worth $20,000.

Four-time finalist George Fetting has won the $3000 Art Handlers' Award for his portrait Antonio Intili – Sartoria (Tailor Shop) #1 2024.

The walls of the shop are covered in patterns, postcards and drawings, while Antonio Intili, who passed away in July 2025, stands with scissors in hand.

Sherry Quiambao is the inaugural winner of the First Time Finalist Award, with her artwork titled Mother dreams on a stone, 2024.

Photographs from 48 finalists will go on display at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.

The National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025 will be on show from Saturday until October 12.