Life-size portrait of Aboriginal Elder wins Archibald
Liz Hobday |
With his Archibald-winning painting, Richard Lewer wanted to put the spotlight on a fellow artist.
His life-size portrait of Pitjantjatjara Elder, Iluwanti Ken, was announced as winner of the prestigious $100,000 prize at the Art Gallery of NSW on Friday.
It’s painted on a yellow ochre background, representing the light and heat of its subject’s traditional Country, the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands of South Australia.
“I really just wanted to shine a light on Iluwanti Ken. She’s an amazing person, and she should be known. Everything’s special about her,” Lewer said.
“She’s a healer, she’s responsible for many families in the community, she is an important Elder. She’s also an important artist in Australia.”
He said he wanted to communicate his subject’s strength and quiet authority, showing a splash of paint on her arm to communicate that she is a working artist.
The winner of Australia’s premier portrait prize was chosen from 1034 entries, which were whittled down to 59 finalists.
Having been an Archibald finalist six times, Lewer was surprised but glad to finally win.
“I reckon the best thing about winning this award is I’ll never be referred to as Richard Lewer, six-time finalist of the Archibald … I was getting kind of sick of it,” he said.
Iluwanti Ken is painted as though she is emerging from the ochre, with a powerful presence that does not rely on conventional perspective, gallery director Maud Page said.
“Richard Lewer has a seemingly spontaneous and instinctual practice, but he has a masterful control of paint,” she said.
The Sulman Prize went to Lucy Culliton for a portrait of one of her seven rescue greyhounds, titled Toolah, artist model.
Gaypalani Wanambi won the Wynne Prize with a work executed in spray paint on etched steel, titled The Wanambi tree.
The Archibald Prize has been running for more than a century, and as has become tradition, a long list of famous Australians posed as subjects for the 2026 edition.
They include Governor-General Sam Mostyn and actors Marta Dusseldorp, Susie Porter and Sheridan Harbridge.
There’s also musician Mick Turner, surfer Layne Beachley, fashion designers Nicky and Simone Zimmermann, and Alemais founder Lesleigh Jermanus.
Artist Sean Layh had already won the $3000 Packing Room Prize with his portrait of actor Jacob Collins as Hamlet.
The winners and finalists in all prizes will be on show at the Art Gallery of NSW until August 16 before touring regional NSW and Victoria.
AAP