Drum roll… this morning the finalists for Australasia’s iconic portraiture painting award, the 2018 Archibald Prize, were unveiled!
The 58 finalists, a quarter of whom are first-timers, have this year been selected from a staggering 794 entries.
Prize organisers at the Art Gallery of New South Wales highlighted that 21 of this year’s paintings are self-portraits, 14 are depictions of other artists, and five feature actors.
The Archibald Prize was established in 1921 from a bequest made by J.F. Archibald. Today the prestigious accolade is judged by the trustees of the Art Gallery of NSW, and comes paired with a $100,000 prize – the winner of which will be revealed next Friday, May 11th.
For all their hard work receiving, unpacking and hanging entries (2,014! across the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes) the Gallery’s staff are honoured with awarding The Packing Room Prize. Head of the packing room Brett Cuthbertson announced a portrait of Jimmy Barnes AO by first-time finalist Jamie Preisz to be the 2018 winner earlier today.
To coincide with their exhibition of 2018 finalists, Art Gallery NSW have organised a series of free public programs, including ‘Art After Hours: The Archibald Prize artists in conversation’, ‘Late Night Laughs’ art critique from top comedians, ‘Vivid Art After Hours’, plus foreign language and access tours (‘Art and dementia’, ‘Auslan tour’, and ‘Audio-description tour’), and lots of great family programs.
‘Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2018’
May 12th to September 19th
Major Exhibition Gallery, Art Gallery of NSW
Art Gallery Road, Domain, New South Wales.
This exhibition will later tour around the country, visiting Geelong Gallery along with Tamworth, Orange, and Lismore Regional Galleries.
