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 – from June 8 to September 8, after which they’ll ship off around the country.
So who took out the top gong? Sydney-based artist Laura Jones has won the Archibald Prize for 2024, taking home $100,000 for her portrait of Tim Winton, the Australian novelist and environmental conservationist.
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. She hopes such an accolade "inspires more young girls to paint".
Jones held an exhibition in 2016 called Bleached after an artist residency on the Great Barrier Reef. Environmental advocacy is a key theme in her work, which is what led her to Tim Winton.
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."
Tim Winton's award-winning novels are a love letter to the Australian landscape in all its forms. Based in Perth, a lot of Winton's recent work has focused on the conservation and preservation of the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef.
The Archibald’s previously announced Packing Room Prize was awarded to street artist Matt Adnate for his piercing portrait of hip-hop musician Baker Boy.
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Our other top picks from the preview include the vibrant close-up of Heartbreak High star Chloé Hayden, titled 'Different, not less' by Jessie Bourke; the 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 Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prize exhibitions are open to visit from June 8 until 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.