Fiona Lowry has won this year’s Archibald Prize for her portrait of Penelope Seidler.
The annual $75,000 Archibald Prize is one of Australia’s most prestigious art awards, and 2014 has been a particularly strong one for female artists with nearly half of the 54 paintings hung in the exhibition done by women.
Chosen from a pool of 888 entrants, the finalist portraits will display from July 19 to September 28 at the Art Gallery of NSW.
Below are some of the portraits of women and the artists who painted them. For the full list of finalists, check out the Art Gallery of NSW website here.
Fiona Lowry: Penelope Seidler
Claiming the winning prize, Fiona Lowry’s portrait of Penelope Seidler.
Lowry first saw architect Penelope Seidler about six years ago at a gallery opening. “I was really struck by her beauty and her presence and asked someone who she was. I decided then that I would like to paint her,” says Lowry.
This is Lowry’s third time as an Archibald Prize finalist. She was a highly commended finalist last year and is also a Sulman finalist this year.
Kate Beynon: Sangeeta and Fuji
Sangeeta Sandrasegar is an artist whose practice explores post-colonialism and cultural hybridity within Australia and its relationship to migrant communities and homelands.
The painting’s artist Kate Beynon was inspired to transform Sandrasegar into a contemporary version of the goddess Durga.
Joanna Braithwaite: Bright Spark
Colleen McCullough is one of Australia’s most successful authors, best known for The Thorn Birds.
“It was quite an adventure to journey to Norfolk Island to meet her,” says Joanna Braithwaite, who painted the portrait of the author … .
“I specifically went to Norfolk because I wanted to seek out and paint Col, as she calls herself, because I have been a long-term fan of her books.”
Joanne Braithwaite has been shortlisted for a number of awards, including the Sulman Prize, the Gallipoli Art Prize and the Portia Geach Memorial Award. This is her second time as an Archibald finalist.
Michael Fairweather: Camilla
Former actor Camilla Rountree is a theatre producer based at Riverside Theatres Parramatta.
She was previously an associate producer at the Sydney Theatre Company and has produced, written and directed many stage shows and events in her own right. Michael Fairweather opted to use her portrait because he said she was a great supporter of visual arts.
“Camilla is a contemporary and vibrant personality. I wanted to capture her poise and style so I’ve used a pose that I think reflects her elegance and calm tranquillity. The colour and sharp lines have been chosen to emphasise her energy and passion, while the shading evokes a tulle-like femininity.”
Sophia Hewson: Artist kisses subject
Sophia Hewson has painted herself with popular ARIA Award-winning singer/songwriter and actress, Missy Higgins.
She said she sought out Higgins to work with her because she belts out her songs in the car.
“I also know her to be genuinely egoless with a deep respect for artistic autonomy, which meant she was willing to work with me outside the traditional portrait structure,” Hewson said.
Hewson has been named as one of Australia’s most collectable artists by Art Collector in 2011.
Rebecca Hastings: The onesie
“It’s difficult to take anyone seriously when they are wearing a onesie,” says Rebecca Hastings of her self-portrait. She says her work mocks her own “inadequacies” as a mother and laments the struggle to also be an artists.
“As a mother of two children I find myself constantly beset by guilt, frustration and anxiety. I consider myself ill-equipped and a bit of a joke when it comes to meeting the lofty, idealistic heights of mummy perfection. This painting is part of a broader exploration of themes relating to ‘maternal ambivalence’, reflecting my desire to subvert the romantic ideal of motherhood, and chart the unacknowledged, darker side of the complex and contradictory experiences that come with having children.”
Tim Maguire: Cate take 1/Cate take 2
Cate Blanchett is arguably one of Australia’s best know exports in the world of stage and screen.
Tim Maguire, who is mostly know for his large scale paintings of flowers, was intrigued by the idea of painting a portrait after meeting Blanchett. The portrait of Blanchett is the result of a number of sittings.