'The Archibald Prize is awarded annually to the best portrait, 'preferentially of some man or woman distinguished in art, letters, science or politics, painted by any artist resident in Australasia’.
'This open competition is judged by the trustees of the Art Gallery of NSW. Finalists are displayed in an exhibition at the Gallery (although in the early years all entrants were hung). Although it is a non-acquisitive prize, several of the entries are now part of the Gallery’s collection.
'The Archibald Prize was first awarded in 1921. In establishing the prize, JF Archibald’s aim was to foster portraiture as well as support artists and perpetuate the memory of great Australians. Over the years some of Australia’s most prominent artists have entered and the subjects have been equally celebrated in their fields.' (Source: Archibald Prize website)
The Archibald Prize is one of Australia's oldest and most prestigious art awards. J. F. Archibald's primary aims were to foster portraiture, support artists and perpetuate the memory of great Australians. Since its inception in 1921 the prize has been awarded to some of Australia's most important artists, including George Lambert, William Dobell and Brett Whiteley.
(Source: Art Gallery of New South Wales.)
'In awarding this year’s Archibald Prize to Laura Jones’ portrait of the writer Tim Winton, the Trustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wales are doing what they do best: catapulting a relatively unknown artist to instant fame and possible fortune.'
'Melbourne street artist Matt Adnate has won the Packing Room Prize for his portrait of Yolngu rapper Baker Boy.'
'I resisted the siren song for years. As a stern Melburnian even while living and working in Sydney, I forever dismissed the Archibald portrait competition as just another Tinsel Town self-indulgence: Sydney celebrities posing for celebrity portraits by celebrity artists; to be tolerated but not indulged.' (Introduction)
