It’s the face that stops the nation. Australia’s favourite portrait prize is back for 2024, and as always it's a delight to see which famous faces have made it into the mix of painterly interpretations. This year, more than 1,000 paintings were submitted, and you can peruse the 57 finalists at the Art Gallery of NSW up until September 8 – after which, they’ll ship off around the country.
So, who took out the top gong? On Friday June 7, Sydney-based artist Laura Jones was announced as the winner of the 2024 Archibald Prize, taking home $100,000 for her portrait of the Australian novelist and environmental conservationist Tim Winton. It's not the first time Jones has been an Archie finalist (she's been featured four times, to be exact), but her win this year makes her the 12th woman to take out the Archibald Prize since it began in 1921.
Laura hopes such an accolade "inspires more young girls to paint". On receiving the award, she said: "I'd like to thank my sitter, Tim Winton. Tim is one of the world’s greatest novelists and also a tireless advocate for the environment. He is an inspiration to me as both an artist and as a human being."
The winner of the always highly-anticipated Packing Room Prize was announced earlier on Thursday, June 30 – with street artist Matt Adnate taking out the coveted award with his piercing portrait of hip-hop musician Baker Boy.
Meanwhile, the Gallery announced the winner of the People's Choice Award on Thursday, August 8. Seven-time Archibald Prize finalist Angus McDonald came out on top as the people's favourite for his portrait of Aboriginal writer and academic Marcia Langton AO. McDonald is only the fifth artist to have won People’s Choice more than once since the prize was first awarded in 1988 – in 2020, he received the award for his portrait of Kurdish-Iranian writer, filmmaker and former refugee Behrouz Boochani.
"I am so thrilled that the public voted my work as their favourite. It’s a privilege to be able to share Marcia’s inspirational story with a wider audience through this painting," said Angus. "Marcia is charismatic, curious, direct and one of our country's deepest thinkers. She has a well of stories which she relates with razor-sharp detail and humour, and at the same time, she radiates kindness and warmth. I wanted to portray her as both a pivotal figure in Australian history and someone who has lived an incredible life."
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Our other top picks from the preview include a vibrant close-up of Heartbreak High star Chloé Hayden, titled 'Different, not less' by Jessie Bourke; a caricature of journalist and former AFL player Tony Armstrong in Mia Boe's 'Toe Knee Arm Strong'; Camellia Morris' 'Wild Wild Wiggle' depicting none other than Anthony Field (AKA the Blue Wiggle); and Sydney artist Caroline Zelinsky's surrealist oil-on-linen work of fellow Sydney native, now Hollywood star Jacob Elordi.
Along with the Archies, the Wynne Prize for the best landscape painting of Australian scenery was awarded to first-time finalist Djakaŋu Yunupiŋu for her painting ‘Nyalala gurmilili’. It depicts the 'miwatj' of Yolŋu Matha, the sunrise side of the north-easternmost point of Arnhem Land – right at the top of the Northern Territory – receiving first light in the morning.
The Sulman Prize for the best subject painting, genre painting or mural project was awarded to community Elder, South Australian artist and ngangkari (traditional healer) Naomi Kantjuriny, for her work ‘Minyma mamu tjuta'. The winning work depicts hundreds of Mamu, or ‘cheeky ones’ – mainly ominous, but sometimes good and helpful spirits.
Now in its 12th year, the Young Archie competition is also packed with some gorgeous artworks by young Aussies aged between five and 18 years. Make sure to check those out, too.
The 2024 Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prize exhibitions are open to visit from June 8 – September 8 at the Art Gallery of NSW. Tickets are not timed and start at $20 for members, $25 for adults, $22 for concessions, $13 for youth, and children under 12 get in for free (good on ‘em). You can snap up your tickets here.
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