The annual Archibald, Wynne & Sulman Prizes competition returns to Art Gallery of New South Wales for its 103rd year from June 8th - September 8th.
The art exhibition showcases 138 celebrated, democratic and sometimes controversial artworks from this year's finalists including this year's Archibald winner Laura Jones with her portrait of author and conservationist Tim Winton. She has become the 12th woman in the competitions' history to win the award.
The exhibition is divided into the 3 Prizes, each catered to a specific category:
Archibald Prize: Best Portrait (57 selected)
Wynne Prize: Best landscape painting of Australian scenery in oils or watercolours or for the best example of figure sculpture by Australian artists. (41 selected)
Sulman Prize: Best subject painting, genre painting or mural project by an Australian artist. (40 selected)
Highlights from the Sulman Prize 2024:
This year's Archibald Prize brought 25 first timer entrants including 29 women and 28 men. Our tour guide that took us through the gallery and mentioned for the first time in the Archibald & Wynne Prize's history, there are more works by Aboriginal artists than non-Aboriginal artists with 21 works by Aboriginal artists among the finalists including Billy Bain, Djakaŋu Yunupiŋu, Leon Russell Black and Zaachariaha Fielding.
Highlights of collective works of First Nations finalists in this year's Archibald,Wynne and Sulman Prizes:
The last section of the exhibition displayed all the finalists who made it onto this year's Archibald with many local famous (and infamous) Australian subjects including Julian Assange, John Ibraham, Anthony LaPaglia, Missy Higgins, Anthony Field (from The Wiggles), The cast of Heartbreak High, Tim Winton (Archibald Prize Portrait Winner) and Matilda's Cortnee Vine just to name a few.
Highlights of the Archibald Prize 2024:
Every subject had a unique back story. I found it funny that John Ibrahim, an alleged organised crime figure and Last King of The Cross got his portrait taken and is on display in a public gallery. You might aswell do a portrait of Don Corleone or Tony Montana.
The captivating story of how Shaun Gladwell managed to draw Julian Assange's portrait while he is confined in maximum security prison was interesting to hear while on the daily tour. Shaun risked his own life for the sake of art after being refused to bring in a pen and paper. Alternatively, he used a bought chocolate bar from the canteen as a pencil and banknote as a canvas to sketch the Wikileaks founder.
‘I consider him a living Socrates, Spartacus, Ned Kelly and Karl Marx,’ said Gladwell.
Taking out this year's Packing Room Prize was Matt Adnate with his portrait of Aboriginal rapper and friend Baker Boy. The prize is judge by the staff who receive, unpack and hang the entries. Matt wanted to capture the progression his mate has had over his career from a young performer from Arnhem Land to becoming a ARIA award winner and Young Australian of the Year in 2019 while still connecting to his roots and cultural heritage.
The one that stood out for me and got my vote in the People's Choice Award was the portrait of Professor Marcia Langton AO by Angus McDonald. Hanging in middle of the room shows the First Nations' activist and academic starring up at cloudy blue afternoon sky. She became a pivotal role in bringing Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
‘An activist since she was 16, she has played a profound part in the struggle for Indigenous recognition and social justice for over 50 years,’ says Angus McDonald.
I was first exposed to her & the other side of Australia's history after seeing the SBS documentary "The First Australians" back when Aboriginal history was first introduced into the high school curriculum in 2008 following former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's Sorry Speech in Parliament that same year.
'I placed her just right of centre to suggest a sense of stepping away and handing the baton to a younger group of activists after a lifetime of tireless commitment. She gazes up and to the left to reflect that she has persistently followed her own path.' added McDonald.
In my opinion, this portrait overshadows the winner of this year's Archibald Prize located on the right of this one.
The Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prize gallery is now on display in the Art Gallery of NSW till September 8th. Definitely an
Be sure to check out the exhibition and book your tickets today in the link below.
Nice. Such a great exhibition and a real showcase of Australian talent.