Australia’s favourite portrait prize is back for 2022, and as always it's a delight to see which famous faces have made it into the mix of painterly interpretations. This year over 800 paintings were submitted, and you can peruse the top 52 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales until August 28, when they ship off around the country. The Archibald’s sibling exhibitions, the Wynne and Sulman Prizes, often overlooked in comparison to their spotlight-stealing sibling, are also packed with an eclectic mix of awe-inspiring works this year.
Culture-hungry Sydneysiders have so much to see and do, there is a bunch of intriguing art exhibitions to explore. Most excitingly, the Art Gallery of NSW id donned in famous faces once again for the Archibald Prize; and the Biennale of Sydney is still in town, taking over multiple venues with hundreds of artworks and interactive events. Check out our insider's guide to the Biennale to help navigate it all.
Read on for our must-see list of the coolest art shows to have a gander at.
Note: in light of extreme weather and the evolving Covid situation, many events across Sydney are being postponed, rescheduled or cancelled. Things are changing rapidly. Always check ahead to see if an event or venue you're planning to attend is still open, and what precautions and conditions of entry are in place.