In just under one hour on the train from Melbourne, you could be face-to-face with Mitch Cairns’ Archibald-Prize-winning portrait of his partner and artist ‘Agatha Gothe-snape’, or Peter Smeeth’s Packing-room-prized ‘Lisa Wilkinson AM’, alongside 41 other artworks selected in the prestigious art awards for 2017.

Though it is being shown in Geelong for the first time, this is a super-fitting locale for the highly-anticipated exhibition because the man behind the prize, John Feltham ‘JF’ Archibald, was in fact born in Geelong West in 1856 and lived in the region until his mid-teens.

Jason Smith, the Director of Geelong Gallery, has announced a suite of enticing programs around the exhibition, including Lectures @theDome, Little Creatures brewery after dark pop-up café and bar, and a ‘Who’s Who Portrait Prize’ for students, to name but a few.

Geelong Gallery is the only VIC venue that will showcase the exhibition before it hits the road again, so be sure to organise your trip before December 10!

2017 Archibald Prize Finalists Group Exhibition
October 28th to December 10th
Geelong Gallery
Little Malop Street Geelong
Open daily, 10am-5pm and Friday evenings 6:00pm-9:00pm

Pictured above: 2017 Archibald Prize curator, Anne Ryan with 2017 Archibald Prize winner, Mitch Cairns, Agatha Gothe-Snape, 2017 © the artist and 2017 Packing Room Prize winner, Peter Smeeth, Lisa Wilkinson AM, 2017, © the artist.